LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




DDDDSOTDHl? 



^^0^ : 



a5 0^ 



k ^O V^ .'i 






«■'•* 




o* 






o 



°o 












*o # * 









-y 






» 



V^-^>' 









o « o 







JUDAS 



JUDAS by 

HARRY KEMP 




NEW YORK 

MITCHELL KENNERLEY 

MCMXIII 



COPYRIGHT 191 3 BY MITCHELL KENNERLEY 






r^^ 

i^^ 

\<\>* 



PRESS 07 J. J. UTILE & IVS§ COMPANY, NEW YOBS 

'g)uLD 36926 



TO 
P. L. B. 



A noise of archery and wielded swords 

All night rang through his dreams. When risen 

morn 
Let down her rosy feet on Galilee 
Blue-vistaed, on the house-top Judas woke: 
Desire of battle lifted in his breast 
Although the day was hung with sapphire peace. 
And to his inner eye battalions bright 
Of seraphim, fledged with celestial mail. 
Came marching up the wide-flung ways of dawn 
To usher in the triumph-day of Christ ... 
But sun on sun departed, moon on moon, 
And still the Master lingered by the way, 
Iscariot deemed, dusked in mortality 
And darkened in the God by flesh of man. 
For Judas a material kingdom saw 
And not a realm of immaterial gold, 
A city of renewed Jerusalem 
And not that New Jerusalem, diamond-paved 
With Love and sapphire-walled with Brother- 
hood, 

s 



Which He, the Master, wrestled to make plain 
With thews of parable and simile — 
Soy 'tis the Flesh that clogs Him, Judas thought 
{A simple, earnest man, he loved Him well 
And slew Him with great friendship in the 

end) ; 
Yea, if He chose to say the Word of Power, 
The seraphim and cherubim, invoked. 
Would wheel in dazzling squadrons down the 

sky 
And for the Hosts of Israel move in war 
As in those holy battles waged of yore, 
* * * 

Ah, all the World now knows Gethsemane, 
But few the Love in that betraying Kiss! 



Judas 

ACT I 

In the courtyard of Judas* warehouse, in 
Jerusalem. 

Two servants of Judas discovered. They 
are taking account of merchandise which is 
piled up, having been unloaded from recently 
arrived caravans. One of them is Aristohulus, 
a Greek slave, who stands with stylus and wax 
tablet, overseeing the re-ordering and arrange- 
ment of the goods, and taking inventory. The 
other is a Syrian from Antioch, also a slave of 
Judas. 

Aristobulus 

Well, then — that makes an end of this con- 
signment. It tallies to a point with the ac- 
count rendered by the caravan-master. Let 
us now reckon up what the latest caravan 

7 



8 Judas 

brought us over the Damascus route — first 
come the jars of Syrian wine. They are of 
greatest value and must be counted and 
stored away in a cool place before the sun 
is at a much greater height — else will they 
lose in savor. How many jars do you find? 



Second Slave 
Fifty- four. 

Aristobulus 

What — only fifty-four? The bill of lading 
says fifty-five. You must have missed one. 
Count them over again. It may be that the 
rascally caravan drivers have drunk one up, 
and cast the jar away. They are a bad and 
lawless lot. 

Second Slave 

{Having recounted the jars. 
You were right, and mine was the mistake. I 
counted fifty-five, exactly, this time. The 
best of us make mistakes at times. 



Judas 9 

Aristobulus 

But you must learn not to make mistakes. 
They are costly In this business. Besides, 
though Judas Is a good master, nothing 
arouses his wrath sooner than bad manage- 
ment and mistakes. But who was your mas- 
ter before? Or did you ever have another 
master? In this country one Is liable to be 
a free man one day and a slave the next. 

Second Slave 
I was a free man before. 

Aristobulus 

You favor the Syrians In general cast of coun- 
tenance. 

Second Slave 

Rightly so — for I am a Syrian. I hall from 
Antloch. 

Aristobulus 

From Antloch — I too hall from Antloch. 
That is, I lived there several years. Be- 



lo Judas 

fore that I lived in Greece on the Corin- 
thian isthmus, when I was a mere lad and 
before I was sold into slavery. I was al- 
ways restless and eager for adventure. I 
was a stout youth. One day a blind minstrel 
stopped for the night at our town and in 
the market place he recited stories from the 
Odyssey about the travels of Ulysses. That 
very next day I ran away from home and 
joined a trireme . . . After that I expe- 
rienced many vicissitudes. Finally, being 
one of the defeated in war, I was caught 
and sold into slavery, and, to make a long 
story short, here I am, a slave to a Jew. 
But how came you to become a slave? 



Second Slave 

How came I to become a slave? ... In a 
far different way. My father failed In busi- 
ness. He was an olive merchant. He was 
old, and I allowed myself to be sold Into 
slavery in his stead, to clear the indebted- 
ness he was in to a money-lender. 



Judas i i 

Aristobulus 

Well, no matter what they say about the Jews 
— and a Greek naturally hates a Jew — ^you 
are fortunate Indeed In having found a Jew 
for a master, and this Judas In particular! 
The Jew works his servants hard, but at 
least he treats them as If they were his fel- 
low men. He doesn't abuse them as do the 
Roman and Greek masters — and our pres- 
ent master Is as reasonable and as kind a 
Jew as anyone could find. 



Second Slave 

In one breath you both laud and decry the 
Jews. 

Aristobulus 

And I do so wittingly. For they are all gone 
mad over their religion. In all else are they 
a sensible people. But for their laws and 
their temple here at Jerusalem will they lay 
down their lives gladly, and at any time. 



1 2 Judas 

And here and there false prophets are al- 
ways springing up, who ever find hundreds 
to believe in them and to follow them whith- 
ersoever they lead. And having secured a 
following, they then go forth into the waste 
places and deserts where no man dwells, and 
there they fast and pray, and baptize those 
who have accompanied them, seeking what 
they call salvation. There is no Jew — no 
matter how business-like and practical in 
every-day affairs he may be — who is not 
touched a little with this fanatic madness. 
Take as an instance our master Judas. As- 
tute in trade and bargains though he be, 
Judas himself is always speaking of the Mes- 
siah. He tells me with his own mouth many 
times each day that the time of the advent 
of the Saviour of the Jews is at hand! 

Second Slave 

Much of what you tell me I in no wise under- 
stand — what mean they by the words Sa- 
viour and Messiah? 



Judas 13 

Aristobulus 

One who is to come endued with supernatural 
power, and deliver them out of the hands of 
their oppressors. Long ago the Jews were 
a great people. In the days of their great- 
est kings, Solomon and David, they were 
rulers over other nations, and not subjects, 
as now they have been for so many years. 
At one time their realm extended from the 
Euphrates to the Great Sea. Since those 
days it has been the one dream and ambi- 
tion of the Jews to bring in anew their an- 
cient glory. And many prophecies have 
grown up around this hope of theirs, so that 
now they fully expect, when the time is ripe, 
the sudden appearance of a descendant of 
the Royal House of David. He will come, 
their prophets say, a plenipotentiary of Je- 
hovah, armed with divine power, and make 
the Jews not only once more their own mas- 
ters, but the rulers of the rest of the world. 
Nay, they even go further, some claiming 
that with the coming of this great leader 



14 Judas 

the golden age will begin, that even the 
dead will rise from their burial places to 
live again— Death himself at last yielding 
to the puissance of the New Order — and all 
men will be friends and will live together in 
love and concord. That is what every Jew 
sees in his mind's eye when he says Saviour 
or Messiah. 

Second Slave 

Truly, comrade, that sounds in the telling like 
one of our Greek myths. 'Tis a pretty tale 
indeed. But do they really have faith in 
such a hope? 

Aristobulus 

Yes. Though it sounds like an incredible tale 
told by travellers to while away the hours of 
a languid afternoon, yet with them it seems 
as true and undeniable as the fact that the 
sun rises or the stars shine. 

\_A noise of voices heard from the dis- 
tance. They stop conversing to listen. 



Judas 15 

Second Slave 

[After a pause. 
What was that — what does that mean? 

Aristobulus 

It means that, somewhere In the city, another 
tumult Is begun. But that Is nothing un- 
usual. You will grow used to tumults and 
brawls — they are of dally occurrence In Jeru- 
salem. 

Second Slave 
What do they quarrel about? 

Aristobulus 

About their religion. The Sadducees fight the 
Pharisees, and the Pharisees fight the Sad- 
ducees, and the Zealots use their daggers on 
both parties. Then, coming up from all 
parts of Judea on festival days, the Pilgrims 
fight among each other. 

[Voices heard, drawing rapidly nearer. 



1 6 Judas 

Second Slave 

But this sounds like the cry of a multitude in 
pursuit of one whom they hate. It reverber- 
ates like the roar of an awakened wild-beast. 

Aristobulus 

[^Looking down street. 
You speak true ! They are indeed in pursuit 
of some one . . . Lo, he comes, running 
this way. 

\^Enter, in great disorder^ Matthew, 

the tax-gatherer. 

Matthew 

Hide me, hide me until they pass by — I have 
eluded them for the moment ... If they 
but lay hands on me, they will tear me limb 
from limb! 

Aristobulus 

We are slaves . . . We dare do naught but 
what our master bids us do. We cannot hide 
you — you must see our master. 



Judas 17 

Matthew 

Where is your master then? In God's name 
either lead me to him or straightway call 
him forth! 

Aristobulus 

I will summon him — though he will be In wrath 
with me for disturbing him, for this Is the 
hour which he spends reading the Law. 

\^Exit Aristobulus. Noise of mob 

heard, 

[Re-enter Aristobulus, After him 

comes Judas, carrying in his right hand 

the scroll of the Law, Noise of mob 

heard again, 

Judas 

Whence all this uproar and disturbance? Can- 
not a servant of God meditate on the Law 
and the Prophets In peace? 
[To Matthew, 

What would you? 



1 8 Judas 

Matthew 

I am pursued and In danger of my life. Give 
me a hiding place till those who pursue me 
have passed me by. 

Judas 

What wrong have you done to the multitude 
to make them hate you so? In what wise 
have you oppressed them, or what one of 
the Laws of our fathers have you broken? 

Matthew 

I was a tax-gatherer for the Romans. I am 
so no longer. But the People still remem- 
ber me and the office I held over them, and 
so they seek to be revenged on me. 

Judas 

You, a Jew! And yet you have betrayed to 
the Gentile your own people ! 

Matthew 

But cannot one repent of evil done? Behold! 
I no longer gather taxes . . . 



Judas 19 

\_The mob roars again exultantly, like 
a "pack of hounds, which, having lost 
the scent, now takes it up again. 
Listen ! They have at last discovered my strat- 
agem — I am doomed! 



Judas 

He who has betrayed his own people well de- 
serves death at their hands. But come, 
Matthew, tax-gatherer, I will save you. 
[To Aristohulus. 

Aristobulus, hold them off till I come out 
again ! 

Aristobulus 
Yes, master. 

[^Exeunt hurriedly Judas and Matthew 
within. 

\^After a moments pause a mob of 
Jewish citizens storms in, armed with 
clubs and stones. Cries of Kill the tax- 
gatherer. Kill him, are heard. 



20 Judas 

One of Mob 

[To Aristohiilus. 
Did you see one running this way? 

Aristobulus 

One, running, passed this way. He is not here 
now. He turned down yonder street. 
\_Re-enter Judas. 

Judas 

Citizens! What means this tumult? How 
dare you thus break in upon my peace? 

First Citizen 

We seek one Matthew, a tax-gatherer, who 
ran this way to escape the visitation of our 
just vengeance upon his head. 

Second Citizen 

He has made himself rich, this Matthew, from 
the taxes the Romans farmed out to him. 
He has been the most exacting of Publicans. 



Judas 21 

He has wrung the last penny from many of 
us. Therefore would we put him to death. 

First Citizen 

Yes ! 'Tls bad enough to have to pay tribute to 
a Gentile — but to see a Jew wring the very 
last drop of blood from his own kind — this 
Is too grievous a burden to be borne. 

Judas 

I grant you so — It is a grievous thing. But 
he whom ye seek Is not here. 

A Voice from the Crowd 

But, Indeed, he ran this way! He must be 
here! 

First Citizen 

[To him who has just spoken. 
Yes ! It was you who saw him running by. 

Voice 

Yes, I saw him pass by my bazaar where I sell 
sweet-meats — so I took out after him. He 



22 Judas 

thought he had entirely escaped by turning 
down a byway, but / saw him. 

First Citizen 

Judas! It Is plain that you seek to hide him 
from us! Is he a kinsman of yours? 

Judas 

I tell you yet again that he whom you seek is 
not here. Go your several ways. Why must 
you citizens of Jerusalem be always stirring 
up tumults? There is not a day passes but 
brings its bloodshed, not a night in which 
cries of affliction and woe do not rise to the 
stars. Nor can a single festival pass by un- 
marred with broils. You seem to lay hold 
on every opportunity to sow discord, care- 
less of the harvests of death which you must 
afterward surely reap. Yet is Rome lenient 
with us Jews. We have our own laws; our 
religious rites are never interfered with. 
Our temple alone, of all the temples of the 
world, stands unpolluted with the images of 
Caesar. 



Judas 23 

A Zealot 

All that is true — and still Cassar Is our King — 
and we would have no King but God ! None 
shall reign over God's Chosen but God him- 
self! 

Judas 

Brethren — I, too, would have no King but God. 
Else were I no true child of Israel. But we 
must bide God's time. Let us possess our- 
selves with patience . . . When His King- 
dom comes it will not come like this . . . 
He will send One ! 



^ Voice from the Crowd 

[Breaking in. 
Ah! He speaks now of the Messiah! 



Another Voice 

Yes — he discourses like the Pharisees. He 
continually cries Wait, Wait — but we can 
wait no longer. We tire of delays, of de- 
liverance which never comes. 



24 Judas 

First Citizen 

And whilst we tarry the Romans keep draining 
our coffers of gold — keep levying taxes on 
us as a subject people — on us, the children 
of Israel, over whom God has watched with 
a zealous eye through all the ages ! He who 
brought us up out of Egypt with a mighty 
hand and an outstretched arm! 

Second Citizen 

[To Judas. 
You say that the Romans are easy with us, 
that they do not interfere with our religious 
rites? But have they not of late div#rted 
the temple-money aside from its holy and or- 
dained uses? — have they not used the tithe 
money to build an aqueduct with, from Caes- 
area to Jerusalem? 

Voice of Zealot 

Aye, must we ever stand still without returning 
a blow? Must we ever submit to such sac- 



Judas 25 

rileges? — No, say I — the time to strike is 
at hand! 



First Citizen 

And with whom can we so well begin as with 
those of our own flesh and blood who sell 
themselves to the Romans and join In op- 
pressing us? 



Second Citizen 

Therefore must we come at this Matthew, and 
rend him limb from limb — we must make an 
example of such as he. 



Voice from the Crowd 

Once I was compelled to sell my very cloak 
that I might get money wherewith to pay a 
tax he demanded. I am a poor man — it is 
contrary to the law of Moses to force a 
poor man to sell his only cloak. 



26 Judas 

Second Citizen 
Let us go on and seek him further. 

First Citizen 

Nay, I am persuaded that this man has con- 
cealed him within. 
[To Judas. 
Stand aside and let us enter and lay hold on 
him! 

l^First and second citizens draw swords 
and press toward Judas, closely accom- 
panied by crowd. 
\_Judas lifts his hand, barring the way. 

Judas 

Nay, you shall not go within. Remember who 
I am, that I am Judas, the richest and most 
influential merchant in Jerusalem. Do you 
think that I will stand by and let you storm 
through my house, destroying and overturn- 
ing everything in a vain search for one who 
has probably already made his escape from 
you? 



Judas 27 

First Citizen 

Let me and my friend [pointing to second 
citizen] go in and search for him. • We will 
injure nothing. 

Voices 

l^From various parts of the crowd. 
Yes ! Yes ! Let them go in then ! 

Judas 

Nay! I will not. Who gave any of you the 
right to search my house? Ye know the 
Law! 

Voice from Crowd 
The Roman Law is no law for us. 

Judas 

The Roman spear and sword will be, then. 

[To mob. 
Go your ways now, before Pilate's soldiery 
come and some of you lose your lives! 



2 8 Judas 

First Citizen 

[To moh. 

You see now! Though he denies that this 
Matthew lurks within, yet, by his actions, 
and by these veiled threats hidden beneath 
his words, he gives his denial the lie 1 Come 
on! 

\_To Judas. 

Step aside, Judas. We would not harm you, 
but the tax-gatherer we must have, and if 
you will not deliver him, like a true child of 
Israel, into our hands for a just vengeance, 
then will we take him. 

Mob 

{^Pressing forward. 
Death to the tax-gatherer! 

Judas 

[Threatening. 
Back, I say — back! 

\^A happy thought striking him, he up- 
lifts the copy of the Tor ah which he 
has laid on a counting table. 



Judas 29 

You speak of the One Law — not the Roman 
Law, but the Law you revere, the Law of 
our Fathers — behold then! This Law you 
have broken — God's Law which ye affect to 
revere and to keep. 

[Showing them the Torah. 
For when ye brake in upon my peace and quiet 
I was reading In these very scriptures. — And 
to disturb one when one Is reading In the 
book of Moses Is punishable by death, and 
It Is also an Insult to the most High God of 
our Fathers! 

[This has the desired effect — the mob 
gives back in consternation. 

First Citizen 
God save us! — We knew not what we did! 

Judas 

If I so desired, ye might be punished by the 
Sanhedrin for this ! Some of you I know — 
[Pointing, 
You ! — and you ! — and you ! 



30 Judas 

First Citizen 

Judas! Forgive us our trespass and we will 
withdraw. Unwittingly have we broken the 
Law. — Report us not to the Sanhedrin ! 

\^At this juncture a sound of military 
marching is heard. 



Judas 

Never mind ! I will not make complaint- — ^but 
there ! Hear you not that trampling of feet 
and clatter of arms? It is just as I warned 
you. The Roman guard comes, to investi- 
gate the tumult. It is too late now to dis- 
persC' — you must now stand and give an ac- 
count of yourselves to the Romans. 

\_The mob tries to steal out, but is com- 
pelled to surge hack again — they all 
gather on right, and from hack enter 
centurion, with a company of soldiers; 
they stand on left toward hack, Judas, 
left front. A momentary tableau. 



Judas 3 i 

Centurion 

[^Hatightily. 
What means all this ? Will you Jews never be 
at peace except under continual threat of the 
uplifted sword? I tell you, that, since the 
bloody tumult ye engaged in at your last 
Passover, the patience of the Emperor has 
become well-nigh exhausted. His tolerance 
will not endure forever. Will we Romans at 
last have to break down your walls, over- 
throw your temples, and sow the remains of 
your holy city with salt? 

[Murmurs of wrath among the popu- 
lace. 

A Voice 
He Insults us to our very faces. 



Another Voice 

He deserves stoning. In so speaking of our 
holy city he blasphemes God. 



32 Judas 

First Citizen 
Be silent, brethren — they are armed! 

Centurion 

[To Judas. 
What are these people about? 

Judas 

They were in hue and cry after a Jewish tax- 
gatherer, who ran this way, they say! 

Centurion 

[Turning again to the people. 
Listen, Jews ! Is it not the Law that taxes be 
gathered? Then why pursue this tax-gath- 
erer? He does according to Law! The 
Emperor lets you live your own lives, lets 
you serve your own God according to the 
ways of your Fathers — all he exacts from 
you is this tribute! 'TIs but a little thing. 
Caesar is not a harsh master. Remember — 
in other days the little finger of the Assyrian 
was heavier upon you than is now the whole 



JuPAs 33 

arm of the Roman. Will ye never gain wis- 
dom? Will ye always continue to bring 
down upon yourselves the wrath of those to 
whom ye are subjects? — But this one thing 
Rome requires, none other — Ye must not 
break the Roman Law! 

A Zealot 

[Pushing out from the crowd; in a loud 

voice. 
Nay — First, and foremost, and above all, — 
we must not break the Jewish law, the Law 
of Laws — the sacred Will of God, handed 
down to us in our holy books, from of old, 
by our Fathers ! 

[Several citizens lay hold of him and 

attempt to hush him. 

One 

Be silent! 

Second One 

Govern your frenzy! Will you bring down 
death upon all of us I 



34 Judas 

Voice from the Background 

Nay! Let him speak. The Spirit of God is 
evidently upon him, giving him this head- 
long boldness. 

Zealot 

[Breaking away from those who would 
constrain him. 
What, then, is this Roman Law of which you 
prate so insolently? It is naught but a code 
devised by the minds of men!^ — that and 
none other. Us it cannot bind because we 
have a Law of our own, one that is holy and 
right, and entirely of God. It is not a cor- 
rupt and shameful thing used as an instru- 
ment of oppression! 

\_To centurion, who threatens. 
Nay! Kill me if you will! 

[The mob, taking courage from the 
frenzy of the Zealot, begin to press in 
threateningly on the soldiers, crying. 
He tells the truth, He is inspired of 
God, Down with the Romans! 



Judas 35 

Judas 

[Boldly stepping between the Romans 
and the Jews. 
\_To the people. 
Go your ways now, while there is yet time, ere 
there ensue shedding of blood and loss of 
life! 

\^To centurion. 
Slay him not, sir — He knows not what he says 
— he has a devil and is beside himself ! 



Zealot 

\_To Judas, in a frenzy. 
Woe unto you, Judas, of Kerioth! It is you 
that have a devil, not I — woe unto you, you 
betrayer of the Son of God! 

\lle falls down in a trance. 



A Citizen 

Betrayer of the Son of God? Can God have 
a son? The fellow is indeed mad. 



^6 Judas 

One Citizen, to Another 
What did he mean when he spoke so of Judas? 

Answering Voice 

I know not. — Perhaps he hath a devil, as Judas 
said. 

A Soldier 

{^Sneeringly. 
All the Jews are mad and possessed with devils, 
methinks ! 

[A murmur of resentment from the 
mob. A stone thrown at the soldier 
who has just spoken hits the wall he- 
hind. 

Centurion 

[Flaring up. 
So! — you treacherous dogs! Will ye never 
learn better than this! Taste then of the 
sharpness of the Roman sword! Soldiers, 
hence with these circumcised slaves! 

\_Exeunt Jews, soldiers following close, 
with drawn swords. A scattered fusil- 



Judas 37 

lade of stones strikes their shields. 
Then sounds of cries and blows off the 
stage. Various voices calling, Ah, the 
Barbarian has killed me! Ah me! Ah, 
woe is Jerusalem! Then naught but a 
few groans heard, tumult dying out. 

Judas 

\_Waits a moment, till all is quiet. 
O Israel ! Israel I How have you fallen from 
your high estate ! 

{^Calling within. 
You may venture forth again! All Is safe! 
Your pursuers have gone ! 
l^Re-enter Matthew. 

Matthew 
Praise be to the God of Israel! 

Judas 

Aye, to Him render thanks ! You were hard 
pressed! 



38 Judas 

Matthew 

I was Indeed! Yet did I not seek escape for 
mine own sake — but I wished to live for the 
sake of those that pursued me. 

l^Enter, at hack, Simon the Zealot; he 
stands for a time unobserved, listening 
to their conversation. 

Judas 

You wished to live for their sakes ! You mean 
that — 

Matthew 

It will take many words to explain, 

Judas 

That Is very strange; you speak in paradoxes. 
I do not understand. 

Matthew 

Listen ! I have a marvel to relate. The Mes- 
siah has come. I have seen him whom gen- 



Judas 39 

eratlons have longed to see and have died 
without seeing. He has chosen me as one 
of his disciples. 

Judas 

The Messiah! And you, a tax-gatherer, his 
chosen one ! Incredible ! 



Simon 

[Coming forward. 
Aye! The day of the Lord is truly at hand. 
I too have seen and heard. 



Judas 

Simon! Returned safe from Gilead! 
\_They embrace, 

Simon 

Aye, Judas, my brother — returned from Gil- 
ead. Safe and sound — with many cruses of 
balm. But I bring news with me that will 



40 Judas 

be more healing than all the balm of Gilead 
to your soul! As I crossed the Jordan, on 
my way back, with the caravan, I came upon 
a great multitude following after one clothed 
In raiment of camel's hair, who preached to 
them continually, exhorting them to bap- 
tism. However, thinking It to be naught 
but another false prophet who was leading 
the people astray like foolish sheep, I had 
gone on without stopping, had not the voice 
of the man given me stay. It had a note in 
It like the sound of the mysterious wind 
when it walks at night among the cedar 
trees. I alighted from my camel and lis- 
tened closely to hear whereof he spoke. Soon 
learned I that the speaker was one who 
called himself John the Baptist. And In- 
deed, his words seemed not of man, but of 
God, like the words our holy prophets 
spake of old, so soul-compelling were they. 
It seemed as if Elijah were risen from the 
dead to call Israel to repentance again. In 
fact there were some there who maintained 
that he was Elijah come again. Repent ye, 



Judas 41 

Repent ye, he cried unto the multitude, some 
of whom wept at his words. Repent ye — 
for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. 
And after he had baptised many and the 
multitude had somewhat dispersed, I too 
came forward, questioning of him, Art thou, 
then, the Messiah who Is to come? 
I am the voice of one crying In the wilderness 
of whom Isaiah spake, he replied, and I In- 
deed baptise with water of repentance — but, 
continued he, there comes one after me 
whose sandals I am not worthy to unloose. 
He Indeed shall baptize with the true bap- 
tism — with the Holy Ghost, and with fire. 
His fan Is In his hand and he will thor- 
oughly purge his floor and gather his wheat 
Into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff 
with unquenchable fire. 

Judas 

Ah! I understand that dark saying — Israel 
Is the wheat, and the Romans are the chaff 
— but proceed, Simon! 



42 Judas 

Simon 

Night came on! The caravan had gone ahead, 
leaving me alone with my camel. I pitched 
my tent. In the morning I purposed ques- 
tioning the prophet further — to ask of him 
when the Messiah of whom he prophesied, 
and for whom all Israel waited, would come, 
if perchance he were not already amongst 
us; and, if so, where I could find him, that I 
might join with him ere his work began. 
But at daybreak I woke to find that the 
Prophet had mysteriously departed in the 
night, and with him his disciples, leaving the 
multitude behind. So now I know little 
more than at first. 

Judas 

Nevertheless, the Day of the Lord is at hand. 
My soul feels Its coming. All Israel faints 
for deliverance as a traveller, lost in the 
desert, faints for water. This present state 
of things cannot long continue, if God still 
loves his people. 



Judas 43, 

Matthew 

Friends, the day of the Lord Is even now at 
hand. Like the first putting forth of the 
almond tree in Spring — The fields will soon 
be clothed with green, and after that will 
come the golden ripeness of the harvest. 
[To Simon. 

You need no longer seek the prophet John. 
For he of whom John and all the Prophets 
prophesy is even now among us. 

Judas 

[^Incredulously. 
Have you seen him and spoken with him? 

Matthew 

Yes, that have I! 

Judas 

Where? 

Matthew 

In no other place than in Capernaum of Gali- 
lee. 



44 Judas 

Judas 
In Galilee! 

Matthew 

I was sitting there at the receipt of the cus- 
toms when he passed by and called me unto 
him. 

Simon 

Are you that notorious Matthew, the tax- 
gatherer? 

Matthew 

I am that Matthew you speak of, but no 
longer do I gather taxes. 

Simon 

[^Drawing dagger. 
Then Matthew, betrayer of your own people 
to the Romans, prepare to die! 

Judas 

{^Coming up and seizing Simon^s wrist. 

Hold, Simon! Will you never cease playing 

the intemperate and hasty zealot? Hear the 



Judas 45 

man through! Did he not say that he no 
longer served the Romans? 

Matthew 
[Quietly, 
Yes, but hear me through in patience! — then, 
after I have spoken, slay me if you will. 
Verily, I am that Matthew, the Jew who 
gathered taxes for the Romans. But I no 
longer sit at the receipt of the customs. 

Simon 

But you have just told us that you recently sat 
receiving taxes in Galilee ! And you will fill 
the ofHce no more — until the time of the 
next gathering, belike! 

Matthew 

I have met the Messiah — I have put off all 
my old habits of life. 

Judas 

The Messiah ! You hear him, Simon, the Mes- 
siah ! 



46 Judas 

Matthew 
The very Messiah, none other. 

Simon 
How did you know him to be the Messiah? 

Judas 

Yes, what signs did he show? — for there be 
false as well as true prophets. 

Matthew 

Never spake man as this man spake. Never 
looked man as this man looked. I was sit- 
ting at the receipt of the customs at Caper- 
naum when he passed by. His shadow fell 
across the counter and darkened the reck- 
onings I was making. It was late eventide — - 
I was In an ill humor. The receipts for the 
day had been unusually poor. The Gall- 
leans had been lax in payment. I was on 
the point of rebuking him who stood In my 
light, but, as I looked up, I looked full In 
the face of the Wonderful Master. He 



Judas 47 

smiled at me In kindly wise. He spake but 
two words, "Follow me." I rose like one 
under a spell. I cast over the table from 
before me. The denarii scattered about the 
street. Something seemed to break within 
me, and the bands which had bound my soul 
In littleness and covetousness were loosened. 
A newer and grander life put forth to flower 
within me. I obeyed the Master and fol- 
lowed him. 

Simon 

By what tokens and signs did he prove him- 
self the Messiah? 

Matthew 

It needed no signs, no tokens. I had only to 
see him, and, above all, to hear him speak, 
to know for a certainty that he was the Mes- 
siah. When yoii see him, and hear him 
speak, yoii too will believe In him and ac- 
cept him. Only those who harden their 
hearts against him can resist his words and 
the light In his face. 



48 Judas 

Judas 

But how comes it that you are not now with 
him — this wonderful leader of men? What 
make you here, at this time of times, in 
Jerusalem? If / had found the Messiah, 
as you say you have, I would never have left 
his presence, until, victorious, he had swept 
the Romans into the Mediterranean, — until 
he had conquered all the oppressors of the 
Jews, and sat triumphant on the throne of 
David, — till God's kingdom was brought in ! 



Matthew 

Let me explain. He assured me that the day 
of his triumph was not yet, though close at 
hand. And I came to Jerusalem at his own 
bidding. He commanded me, saying, "Go, 
sell all you have, and follow me." — These 
were his very words. I have now disposed 
of all that was mine in worldly possessions. 
And, behold, this very day I return to him. 



Judas 49 

Judas 

You must show us the way to him. You must 
take us with you — for we also desire to join 
with the Saviour of Israel. It has been my 
dream night and day, to see the Kingdom of 
God brought into being. 

Simon 
We will make him stronger by two. 

Matthew 
Come then! 

[^Starts to go, 

Judas 

But a moment! I must leave my business af- 
fairs in some one's hands before I go. 
\_Calling servant, 
Aristobulus ! Aristobulus ! 

Aristobulus 
[Enters, 
Master! What will you? 



50 Judas 

Judas 

Boy! I go on a long journey. For all your 
youth you are cunning at bargains and a 
servant to be relied on and trusted in. Time 
and again have I entrusted you with my af- 
fairs while I went forth from Jerusalem 
even as far as Alexandria, on pressing mat- 
ters of business. But this time, God knows 
when I shall return! 

Aristobulus 

Master, I have yet to betray any trust you re- 
pose in me. 

Judas 

I leave you in charge of all my affairs till I 
return. See that the wines are well cared 
for. Take special heed of Cephas, the 
chief buyer of my wines. He will cheat If 
he can. Be astute In bargaining with the 
caravan masters. Pay as little as you can 
for goods, and sell for as much as you can. 
Be not remiss in the smallest Item I have 



Judas 5 i 

charged you with. And if you discharge all 
duties well, on my return I will reward you 
with the gift of your own freedom. 

Aristobulus 

I will be as your second self in my duty to- 
ward you. 

[Exit, 

Judas 

And now, brethren, let us forth to Galilee to 
join the Messiah! 

Matthew 

Nay, Judas! Before you remove from Jeru- 
salem to become one of the Master's di- 
sciples, you must do as I have done, "You 
must sell all you have and follow me," — so 
commanded the Master of me/ 

Judas 

Nay — that is what he required of you because 
your money was ill-gotten, was gotten by 



52 Judas 

extorting unjust taxes from your own coun- 
trymen, for the Romans. On the other 
hand, my money has all been gained by hon- 
est trading. Besides, I must see him first 
and when he commands me with his own 
lips to do as he commanded you — then will 
I obey him to the uttermost. 

Matthew 

Very well, then — we shall see the Master first. 
Yet am I certain that he will require the 
same of you that he required of me. 

Simon 

And as for my possessions, they are of small 
account, just enough to keep my wife and 
son from starving during my absence. And 
surely in that case he would not wish me 
to dispose of my worldly goods? 

Judas 

The Messiah might be able to put my gold to 
good use. Yea! Even the Messiah! For 



JuPAs 53 

must he not partly by human aid build up 

this Kingdom to be? 

[^ Roman procession passes by back- 
entrance, with clank and clatter of 
arms. 

Matthew 

Ah! Rome! Rome! Your days in Judea 
are numbered! Soon will you cease to draw 
tight the reins of the world. For the day of 
the Lord is at hand. The Messiah soon 
will storm through these very streets, sweep- 
ing your hosts before him in triumph, the 
Sword of the Wrath of God in his hand, his 
feet treading out the red vintages of the con- 
suming wrath of Jehovah ! 

Simon 

[Uplifting his dagger. 
No King but God ! No King but God ! 

Matthew 

On to Galilee, brethren! 

[Sound of tumult afar off. 



54 Judas 

Judas 

By the Beard of Aaron! This is the city of 
tumults and not the City of Peace ! 

Matthew 

The time of the Feast of Unleavened Bread 
draws nigh. The people are ever restless 
at times of Festival. 
\^They start to go. 

Simon 

\^T liming suddenly to Judas. 
Stay! We have forgotten Lebbasus. 

Judas 
Of mornings he is busy at the temple. 

Simon 
We must have him accompany us. 

Judas 

Yes. We must not leave Lebbaeus behind, 
that true servant of the Lord. He too will 



Judas 55 

be glad of the good tidings. Many and 
many a day he and I have discussed, and 
interpreted together, the prophecies concern- 
ing the coming of the Messiah. 

Simon 

And yet I despair of our ever persuading him 
to go with us. He is a Levite. And the 
Levites and Pharisees seem content to pre- 
serve things as they are — as long as the 
Romans leave them free to offer up, unmo- 
lested, the sacrifices that Moses commanded, 
— as long as they do not bring their graven 
Images and the bust of the emperor into the 
holy city. 

Matthew 

Indeed, for that matter, the Romans do great- 
ly favor the Jews — for I have often been 
told by a far-travelled centurion whose ac- 
quaintance I made in Galilee, at Capernaum, 
that the temple at Jerusalem is the only one 
among those of all the peoples of the earth 



^6 Judas 

wherein the statue of the emperor has not 
been set up, wherein the emperor has not 
enjoyed divine honors. 

Judas 

Come, let us to the Temple and tell Lebbaeus 
of the good tidings — for I know him better 
than you do, Simon, and I am sure that we 
can persuade him to go with us to Galilee. 

Simon 

\^Gazin^ down the street. 
We need not remove one foot toward the 
Temple — Lebbaeus himself saves us that 
journey. Lo ! Where he comes! 

Judas 

But that can hardly be Lebbaeus ! He rends 
his garments and dust is strewn over his 
head. 

\^Peering. 
Yet it is he. Mayhap one of his near kinsmen 
has died. 

[Enter Lehhaus. 



Judas 57 

Lebb^us 

Woe unto Jerusalem, that Holy City of God! 
And woe, woe to the Children of Israel — 
for sorrow was never like unto theirs since 
the beginning of the world! 

Simon 
How now, Lebbaeus? 

Lebb^us 

IChokin^. 
The Romans! 

Judas 

Aye! The Romans! What of them? 

Lebb^us 

The Abomination of Desolation of which the 
Prophet Daniel spake — the time is at hand, 
and now is . . . Even I, a Levite, can no 
longer endure in patience. 



58 Judas 

Judas 

Well said, Lebbseus! But tell us what this Is 
that Is of such woeful Import? 

Lebb^us 

The Romans! — Last night, toward the last 
watch, under cover of darkness, they 
marched Into the Holy City, bearing along 
with them their golden eagles. And now 
In the outer courts of the Temple stand the 
graven Images which the Law has forbid- 
den. The Temple Is polluted. 

[^They all rend their garments. 

All 

Woe, woe to Israel! 

Lebb^eus 

[Continuing. 
At the first glimpse of dawn there they stood 
revealed, the golden eagles of Rome, pois- 
ing with outstretched wings, as if they 
would next fly Into the very Holy of Holies. 



Judas 59 

I had determined long ago to be patient in 
the Lord and to endure to the uttermost. 
But now the Romans have offered insult to 
God himself. The entire city is in commo- 
tion, for the story of the sacrilege has spread 
among the people as a forest lire sweeps up 
the slopes of Lebanon. Already men are 
running in out of the country, intent on com- 
pelling the Romans to remove their stand- 
ards out of the Holy Place. Ah, if God 
would but now send unto us His Anointed 
One, whom He has promised us ! Ah, if 
only the Messiah would come now and lead 
the multitude to punish these insulters of our 
holy laws and customs! 



Simon 

Lebbasus, you have spoken after the manner of 
the prophets. Behold, the Messiah of 
whom you speak has come ! Had you not 
so unexpectedly run to us, we had sought 
you out to tell you the good news 1 



6o Judas 

Lebb^us 

The Messiah already among us! But where? 
Is he here in Jerusalem? And, if so, by 
what signs and portents are we to know 
him to be of God? 

Matthew 

Nay, my life if I bear false witness! I saw 
him with my own eyes, in Galilee. 

Judas 
Yes, he has seen him and spoken with him. 

Simon 

And indeed I, for my part, saw his forerunner, 
the re-arisen Elias, at the Upper Ford over 
Jordan. 

Lebb^us 

Then, belike, he is already marching to Jerusa- 
lem, leading the multitude to victory over 
the Romans. We had better stay here and 



Judas 6i 

wait his arrival. Else might we pass him 
by. And the coming of the Messiah is an 
event which I have waited for, in fasting 
and prayer, lo, these many years! 

Matthew 

He told me to return to Capernaum and rejoin 
him there. 

[Noise of tumult heard without, 

Lebb^us 

Hearken to the voice of the multitude. Like 
the waves of the Great Western Sea beating 
In storm about a promontory, so they dash 
hither and thither, without a leader, driven 
on by the wind of their own despair and 
wrath ! 

Matthew 

But come, brethren, we delay too long. Why 
waste words when the Chosen One of God 
waits us in Galilee? They — 

[Pointing without. 
will soon have the leader they lack. 



62 Judas 

Lebb^us 

ITo Matthew, 
Lead and we will gladly follow. 
lExeunt. 
[Enter the mob of citizens. 

First Citizen 
What shall we do? Whither shall we go? 

Second Citizen 

To Caesarea, whither all the chief men of Jeru- 
salem have repaired, to beg of Pilate that 
he remove his heathen images from the 
Holy City! 

First Citizen 

I for my part am tired of continual supplica- 
tion. It does no good. 

A Voice 

Yes ! Let us fall on the Legionaries stationed 
here at Jerusalem, and put them all to 
death. They be few, we, many. 



Judas 63 

Second Citizen 

But they are every one of them soldiers skilled 
in warfare. And though here they be few 
In numbers, yet Rome has enough of them 
to overwhelm the habitable world. Do 
nothing rash! Let us hasten to Caesarea 
and join the elders In their supplications 
toward Pilate! 

Voices 

He advises well ! On to Caesarea ! On to 
Caesarea ! 

[They go out as they cry these things. 

Curtain 



ACT II 

In the yard of an inn at Capernaum. On 
the left stands the entrance to the inn. In the 
extreme background lies the beach, and, be- 
yond, the Sea of Galilee. A fisher-boat is seen, 
drawn up on shore. 

Three fishermen discovered mending nets 
at rise of curtain. 

First Fisherman 
That was a great catch! 

Second Fisherman 

From that one cast we filled our boat full of 
leaping heaps of fish! 

Third Fisherman 

Yes! It Is well that we at last took the Won- 
der-worker's words In earnest and threw 
over the net where he bade us — else had we 

64 



Judas 6^ 

gone through the day's work with empty 
boats. 

[To first fisherman. 
If we had listened to you, we would never 
have had this luck. Why did you mock at 
his advice? 



First Fisherman 

I thought he was only making fun of us, when 
he came up and advised us to throw our 
nets over on the shallow side. It was con- 
trary to all my experience as a fisherman ! 



Second Fisherman 

I myself did not have faith in what he said. 
But I held my peace and advised following 
his advice, just for luck. You know we had 
made two casts on the deeper side toward 
the open water and had gotten nothing . . . 
And I was indeed astonished when we at- 
tempted to haul in the nets and found them 
so heavy with fish that we had to call on the 



66 Judas 

other boats not far off to lend us a hand. 
And then, even with all our care, the nets 
tore! 

First Fisherman 

Did you notice how jealous of our good luck 
old Zebedee was? He let down in the same 
place after us, but drew up naught but 
gravel, shells, and a few creeping things. 

Second Fisherman 

It serves Zebedee right! He is too greedy 
and miserly, and envious of others. 

Third Fisherman 

I saw the old man alone in his boat this after- 
noon — something unusual. Have his two 
sons, James and John, gone down to the 
Festival at Jerusalem, think you? 

First Fisherman 

I wouldn't be surprised if they had — Zebedee 
can well afford to let them go, if he chooses 



Judas 67 

— he runs three fishing boats, altogether. 
But we poor fishermen cannot afford to go 
to festivals. We have to stay at home and 
work if we want to live. 

[Enter, a citizen of Capernaum. 

Citizen 

God bless us all, have you heard the latest 
news? 

First Fisherman 

What is that? 

Citizen 

Have you heard what is told about James and 
John, the sons of Zebedee? How they have 
gone off with the Wonder-worker as his 
disciples? It is also rumored that, because 
of what they have done, their father has 
disinherited them! 

Third Fisherman 

Zebedee is a rich man. . . James and John 
were fools. If I were his son, I'd stay at 



68 Judas 

home with him, Wonder-worker or no Won- 
der-worker! 

Citizen 

Yet this man is of great power, though the 
Pharisees say his strength is of the Evil One. 

Third Fisherman 

Drat the Pharisees! . . . No matter whence 
his power, he has this day provided us with 
a marvellous catch of fish. 

Citizen 

Yes, I heard about that — it is the common talk 
of the village. But how much truth is there 
in it? Common report exaggerates. . . . 
The net broke, for instance! 

First Fisherman 

It is all true. 

Third Fisherman 

It is so true that if I were he I would give all 
my time to fishing and speedily become rich. 



Judas 69 

He gains nothing running about the country 
telling the people of their sins. . . . 

iPause. 
I wonder where he learned so much about 
our occupation. It is evident that he knows 
more about fishing than any fisher on the 
lake. 

Citizen 

And yet he hails from Nazareth, and is naught 
but a carpenter's son, people say. Jesus of 
Nazareth, men call him. And before he 
learned the art of wonder-working and per- 
forming miracles he followed his father's 
trade at Nazareth, and now he goes about 
healing the sick and preaching wonderful 
things, not to be believed. . , . Many say 
that he is the Messiah. 



Second Fisherman 

Well, I, for one, believe in him. He knows 
how to catch fish. And he must know 
whereof he speaks, as well. 



70 Judas 

Citizen 

But why does he not go among the learned for 
his disciples? He seems to choose none but 
fishermen to be his followers ! 

Third Fisherman 

^Offended with the rest. 
By the altar at Jerusalem, in that he shows 
wisdom ! 

[The other fishermen nod assent. 
We fishermen have good sense, if I do say it 
myself. And we are not afraid of danger, 
for we live perilous lives. 

Citizen 

[Seeking to mollify the fishermen. 
I mean no offence. 

Third Fisherman 

[Surlily. 
Who else among the lake-people have joined 
with him? 



Judas 7 i 

Citizen 
Two other brothers — Peter and Andrew. 

First Fisherman 

[Dropping end of the net in astonish- 
ment. 
Peter and Andrew! . . . Andrew is not so 
bad; but Peter! I never knew so quarrel- 
some and violent a fellow. He does noth- 
ing but make trouble. I wonder why the 
man from Nazareth chose him? 

Second Fisherman 

ril tell you why — when Peter's your friend he 
is your friend. The Wonder-worker picked 
a good man, that's what I say! 

Citizen 

Well, probably the man who can work miracles 
and all that knows pretty well what he's 
about when he chooses such men for his dis- 
ciples. 



72 Judas 

[^The fishers rise angrily^ and the citi- 
zen hastens away. They re-seat them- 
selves, and continue mending net. A 
pause. 

First Fisherman 

We're just as good as anybody else, even if we 
are only fishermen. What say you, Zach- 
ary? 

Second Fisherman 

Indeed we are — and better. 
[Another pause. 



Third Fisherman 

{With a sigh of relief. 
Come ! The net is mended now . . . just as 
good as ever. That was a bad tear and a 
good tear. I'd be willing to have a thousand 
rents the same way, if each time I might 
draw in just such a boatload of fish. 

[They rise. 



Judas 73 

First Fisherman 

Come, comrades ! all together, now . . . into 
the boat with it. 

[They cast the net into the boat and 
prepare to re-embark. 
Ere sunset we'll try our luck again. 



Second Fisherman 

God send us good luck! 

[Fishers pull off in the boat, 
[Enter two pilgrims. They rap at the 
door of the inn. The innkeeper comes 
out. 

Innkeeper 

You seek lodgings, masters? No more room 
have I. My inn is already pressed full with 
those who have come to see the New 
Prophet. 

[Under his breath. 
And a vile crowd they are, too — every one 
has something the matter with him. 



74 Judas 

First Pilgrim 

We, also, have come to see him and to hear 
his wonderful words. 

Second Pilgrim 
Where is he? Abides he within? 

Innkeeper 

He sailed across the Sea of Galilee, in a fisher- 
boat, this morning, to avoid the multitudes 
that flock to him from all parts of Judea. I 
take it that you two forerun a party of pil- 
grims. How many more come after you? 

First Pilgrim 

We forerun two-score from beyond Jordan. 
We ourselves were followers of the Prophet 
John. But now we would follow this man. 

Second Pilgrim 

For John sent some of his disciples to him to 
find out if he were the Messiah that was to 
come, and he convinced them that he was. 



Judas 75 

First Pilgrim 

Can't you find room somewhere for those who 
come behind us? It Is good weather — we 
might sleep in your courtyard. 

Innkeeper 

No! I haven't room In the courtyard, even. 
You will have to sleep wherever you can — 
on the sands of the beach, perhaps — I have 
neither lodging nor food for one more. 

lExit innkeeper. Enter the other pil- 
grims in a body, hobbling, crawling, be- 
ing carried, etc. 

One of Them 

\_To first pilgrim. 
Is the Wonder-worker nigh, Bar- Jonah? 

First Pilgrim 

The Innkeeper says that he crossed the Gali- 
lean Lake early this morning. 



76 Judas 

The Same Voice 

And can we find a place to stay, here at the 
Inn? 

First Pilgrim 
No — the place is already over-run. 

A Sick Man 

[^Tremulously, 
I can go no further; I shall die. Bring me to 
the Master immediately. I know he can 
heal me. Men say he heals at a touch. 

A Voice 

Be of good cheer, brother; he Is not far from 
here — we will soon find him. 

The Sick Man 

Bring me to him immediately. I am rich, and 
will reward him. 



Judas 77 

First Pilgrim 

He seeks no reward for his healing, men say; 
but come, brethren, since there is no room 
for us here at the inn, let us follow after 
him, across the Galilean Lake. Let us hire 
fishers to row us across. 



A Voice 

Well said. Bar- Jonah! To the boats, fellow- 
pilgrims, to the boats! 



Another Sick Man 

[Falling, 
Carry me to one of them — I can no longer 

walk. My sickness overcomes me, and I 

faint. 

[They all go out, some carried on lit- 
ters, some hobbling along, a few blind 
and being led. 

[Enter Mary of Magdala and two 
companion courtesans. 



78 Judas 

Mary 

Where is this Jesus of Nazareth, where is this 
high and holy prophet of God? I will bring 
him low, as Samson was brought low by- 
Delilah. 

First Courtesan 

Believe me, mistress, if any can bring him low, 
it is you. 

Mary 

Ah, I am beautiful, am I not? . . . And yet 
he rebuked me when I threw myself in his 
way . . . and he naught but a vagabond 
prophet, while I am sought after by Roman 
captains and rulers. And he rejected me — 

iChokin^. 
I love him. 

[yi pause. 
I could kill him ! He scorned me ! 

First Courtesan 

Nay, mistress, he scorned you not. I must say 
it, mistress . . . mock not at me when I 



Judas 79 

say that he seemed too noble and gentle for 
that. 

Mary 

Nay, worse, he pitied me ! And yet, he Is fair 
and straight and tall and beautiful ... I 
love him! ... I hate him! 

First Courtesan 

And now you have stripped off all your jewels 
and raiment of silk and go in sackcloth. 

Second Courtesan 

Yea ! Do you think this is a likely way to en- 
snare a man? 

Mary 

I deal with one who is more than a man, or 
less than a man, I know not which — and so 
I take more than ordinary means to win him. 
Behold— 

[Laughing. 

I go to him, as one repentant of her sins, in 
sackcloth and ashes. Do I not look sober 



8o Judas 

and contrite — and demure enough to entrap 
the heart of a saint? 

[Mincing and making a little mouth. 
I shall become his disciple ... I shall 
smooth his path of cares. I shall look after 
his every little want as only a woman can. 
And then, if he grow not to love me, I will 
betray him to those whose fingers itch for 
his life — the Pharisees! 

Second Courtesan 
Soft, mistress! Yonder come two men. 

Mary 

They are disciples of his. . . . They were 
with him when he rebuked me. 

[Enter Philip and Bartholomew, 

Philip 

In all my days I never saw such a thing. He 
cannot avoid the multitudes which follow 
him. Wherever he goes, they find him out ; 



Judas 8 i 

they people the waste places, and even the 
mountain-tops, and give him no rest. 

[Seeing Mary and companion cou7'te- 
sans. 
What make you here, mistress? 

Mary 

I would see Jesus, the Healer and Prophet of 
Nazareth. 

BARTHOLOMEVi^ 

He is not for such as you ! Are you not that 
Mary of Magdala, whom he rebuked for 
wantonness not long ago? 

Mary 

Since then I have repented. And now I come 
to be cleansed of my sins. 

Bartholomew 

But I tell you that the Master has naught to 
do with harlots — he Is a holy man of God. 



82 Judas 

Philip 

Did he not repulse you In a public place? 
What more? 

Mary 

Nay, but then I came before him attended by 
lute-players and dancing-girls, glorying in 
my wantonness. It was the wantonness in 
me, and not me, that he rebuked. And now 
I come to him in sackcloth, repentant. 

[Philip and Bartholomew walk to one 
side, 

Philip 

[To Bartholomew. 
The woman is shrewd! 

Bartholomew 

I fear her shrewdness. I fear all such women. 
[Calling across to Mary. 

Get you back to Magdala where you belong! 
You are more dangerous to men in sackcloth 
than In silk. But think not to win power over 



Judas 83 

the Master with your tales of repentance 
and your beautiful face unveiled. He Is 
nearer a god than a man. He will laugh 
at you. Your cunning Is of no avail. Be- 
sides, the Master Is not here, but on the 
other side of the Lake! 



Mary 

You are men harsh of heart and unpltying — I 
will go to him and seek him out. Come, 
sisters ! 

[Exeunt Mary and companions, 

Philip 

Perhaps this Is a dark design of the Pharisees 

— as Delilah did with Samson But lo ! 

yonder comes Matthew returning from Je- 
rusalem. ^ 

Bartholomew 

He has made quick dispatch of his affairs and 
an expeditious journey. 



84 Judas 

Philip 

He comes, bringing with him three others, 
just as the Master foretold when he bade the 
innkeeper hold room for twelve instead of 
nine. 

Bartholomew 

But they look woebegone, and their cloaks are 
rent. What great calamity has befallen at 
Jerusalem? 

Philip 

Yet, look closer — at their countenances, not 
their apparel. See you not that their faces 
shine as with a sudden and great joy? 

[Enter Matthew, Judas, Simon the 
Zealot, and Lehhaus. 

Bartholomew 

You have made great haste, Matthew. Have 
you in so short a time done all that the Mas- 
ter bade? 



Judas 85 

Matthew 

Every jot and tittle of his will have I fulfilled. 
I now possess naught but my love unto him 
and my zeal for the coming Kingdom of 
God. 

Philip 

And now you are rich indeed! 

Bartholomew 
Whom have you with you? 

Matthew 
Those whom the Master bade me lead to him. 

Judas 

I am Judas, the merchant — and these be my 
friends — Simon, a caravan master, who be- 
longs to the sect of the Zealots, and Leb- 
baeus, a Levlte, who officiates at the Holy 
Temple itself. 

[They greet each other in Eastern 
fashion. 



86 Judas 

Philip 
And you come to join the Messiah, brethren? 

Simon 

For that, indeed, and for no other reason, have 
we come. 

Bartholomew 

Behold In us, then, men who are already ac- 
cepted disciples of him who Is to lead Israel 
to victory. 

Philip 

But, at this time of great joy over the nearing 
deliverance of Israel from the hands of 
Idolaters, wherefore come ye to us wearing 
rent cloaks and In mourning? 

Lebb^us 

Have ye not heard, then! How that the Ro- 
mans have defiled the Holy City with their 
ensigns and golden Images? 



Judas 87 

Bartholomew 

We have heard; but we thought it not seemly 
to mourn. It is the Romans' last triumph. 
We who are the followers of the Messiah 
who comes to avenge the wrongs of Israel — 
we, least of all, should mourn over present 
calamities! 

Simon 

Where is this wonderful man? 

Matthew 

He is on the other side of the Lake, whither 
he has withdrawn to pray and to escape the 
multitudes. 

Judas 

Escape the multitudes! Has he then incurred 
the hatred and erymity of those of whom he 
is to be the leader? That were a sorry state 
of affairs! 

Lebb^us 

Indeed, that it were! 



88 Judas 

Simon 

In that case we had better return to Jerusalem 
and wait yet longer for the coming of the 
Son of Man. For the true Messiah is to 
lead the people, not flee from them. 

Philip 

Be not hasty in your misunderstanding. The 
people follow after him because he cures 
them of their sickness. They pursue him 
from place to place, crying out to be healed, 
until even he becomes wearied. For if they 
had their way he would have no rest by day 
or by night. 

Matthew 

But has he gone away alone? He must take 
more precautions ! The Pharisees ! . . . 

Bartholomew 

No, he is not alone. Peter, James, and John 
are with him. He loves them best of all. 



Judas 89 

because they were the first to give up all for 
the sake of the Kingdom. 

Lebb^^us 
And why have ye tarried behind? 

Simon 

Think you that four are enough to withstand 
those who might have evil designs? 

Philip 

They would not dare touch a hair of his head 

. because of the people, and, besides, he bade 

us remain to receive you on your arrival 

from Jerusalem; the innkeeper has reserved 

room for four at his request. 

Matthew 

But how knew he that I was to bring three 
back with me ? I myself did not know. And 
it is by merest chance that we came together. 



90 Judas 

. .... - 

Philip 

I know not how he knew, other than that he 
knows and foresees all things. He some- 
times frightens us all with the power God 
has given him. 

Judas 

Indeed he must be the Messiah, and I have 
made no mistake leaving Jerusalem. He 
heals the sick. He sways men as the wind 
moves among the reeds In the marshes. He 
defies the Pharisees and emerges from their 
hatred unscathed. It Is surely he alone who 
Is to establish the Kingdom of God. When 
he returns from the other shore of the Lake 
we must urge him to lead us on immediately 
to Jerusalem. There Is no time to be lost, 
for all the Jews are ready now at almost 
any time to break forth into rebellion. All 
they need is One sent of God to lead them. 
The time of the Feast of the Passover draws 
nigh. All the people will then be gathered 
together, from Lebanus to Idumea, even 
unto the dispersed among the Gentiles. 



Judas 91 

Lebb^us 

Yes, after the recent pollution of the Temple 
the people will readily rally under any 
leader. 

[Enter the innkeeper, 

Simon 

\To the innkeeper. 
We have travelled hard all last night and to- 
day. We are weary and would rest. 

Innkeeper 

I have no room for you, unless ye be the men 
the Great Healer bade me prepare for. 

Philip 
These are the men. 

Innkeeper 
Then I have room. 



92 Judas 

Judas 

And food? We have come a long way, and 
are an hungred ! 

Innkeeper 

All I have is at your disposal. Follow me and 
I will myself see to it that you find rest and 
refreshment. 

[Exeunt Simon, Lehhaus, Matthew, 
Judas, and the innkeeper. Judas turns 
and speaks from door, to Bartholomew 
and Philip, ere he enters, 

Judas 

Brethren, see to it that we do not oversleep, 
and have the Master pass us by and go on 
to another village. For I have heard that 
it Is his wont to travel about from place 
to place. 

Bartholomew 

Be not uneasy. Go within and rest. For you 
will need rest sorely in the days to come, me- 



Judas 93 

thinks. There are days of trial and tribula- 
tion in store for all of us, times of tempta- 
tion and despair and tribulation of spirit. 

Philip 

Go within and possess yourself with peace, 
Judas! But a little while and the Master 
comes, nor will we fail to summon you when 
he arrives. 

\^Exit Judas. 

Bartholomew 

I like his eagerness, and his desire for the 
Kingdom. 

Philip 
He has not yet been tried in the fire. 

Bartholomew 

There is not one of us has, brother! 

[Enter Simon, Jude, and loses, bro- 
thers of Jesus. 



94 Judas 

[They enter at right, and, as Bartholo- 
mew and Philip are in background by 
the shore of the lake, the latter are not 
seen until they step forward and make 
their presence manifest, 

Simon 

He IS nothing but a half-brother of ours, yet 
for all Judea I would not behold him come 
to grief. 

JOSES 

What makes him act so strangely, to leave a 
good home and steady work — does he really 
think himself to be a prophet of God, as 
people say he does? He used to be an in- 
dustrious carpenter, like the rest of us, until 
this unsteady madness laid hold on him. 

JUDE 

If he claimed power as a prophet only — if he 
would stop there, I would myself yield him 
a measure of belief. 



Judas 95 

JOSES 

And that's just what I would not do ! Have 
we not lived with him for years? Have we 
not seen him grow into manhood? But 
does he claim to be more than a proph- 
et? ... I fear your answer. 

JUDE 
He claims to be the Messiah. 

JOSES 

By the rod of Moses, he has indeed gone mad! 
Who ever heard of a carpenter being the 
Messiah ! Let us tarry here no longer. He 
will be stoned to death for blasphemy. That 
will be the end of It all. And we, if we re- 
main here, we will, like as not, be caught in 
the net of the same fate for being kinsmen 
of his. 

[^Philip and Bartholomew come for- 
ward. 



g6 Judas 



Philip 



I gather from what you were saying that you 
be brethren of the Master? 



JOSES 

Master! What Master? 

Bartholomew 
Jesus, the Prophet of Nazareth. 

JUDE 

We are his half-brothers. Joseph, the carpen- 
ter of Nazareth, is his father, by a second 
wife. He married Mary, our stepmother, 
and of her was Jesus born, when Simon, the 
oldest of us, was over ten years old. 

Philip 

Blessed are ye above all men, in having such a 
brother ! 



Judas 97 

JOSES 

Cursed are we above all men In having 
such a brother I He shirks his work 
at the carpenter's bench at home; he 
runs abroad, preaching and Inciting the peo- 
ple to tumult and discontent; he Incurs the 
enmity of all classes of people by his rash 
words — and we, his kinsmen, will have to 
suffer along with him when he brings down 
ruin upon his head. Fingers of scorn will 
be pointed at us. It might go even further. 
We ourselves might be involved in his de- 
struction. 

Bartholomew 

But do you not believe In him? Have you 
not heard of his wonderful healing of the 
sick? 

Simon 

We have heard, but we do not give credence 
to such tales. 



98 Judas 

JUDE 

Indeed, brother, do not Include me In that. I 
have held all along that he has remarkable 
powers and that he Is a holy man, wonder- 
fully gifted of God. I have no quarrel 
with him as regards his prophesying and his 
healing the sick. But his claims to Messlah- 
shlp ! Probably he is a little beside himself 
In that respect. 

[To Philip and Bartholomew. 

But tell me where he Is. As you love him, I 
adjure you to tell me. I would save him 
from the Pharisees I He does not know the 
danger he Is In. 

Philip 

He IS not In as much danger as you think. The 
Pharisees would not dare malm a little fin- 
ger of his, because the common people wor- 
ship him. Great multitudes follow him 
about. All the other prophets spake to 
the powerful and mighty ones of earth. He 
alone speaks to the people. 



Judas 99 

JOSES 

Come, we care not about that. Where is he? 
Bring us to him. We would fetch him home 
with us. He is needed at home. 

Simon 

Trust not too much to the multitudes. They 
are as fickle as a weather-cock. 

JOSES 

He is our brother. He never was anything 
but a worker in wood, and now he spoils a 
good carpenter for a poor prophet. 

Bartholomew 

Surely you jest! I will tell you that I have 
with these very eyes beheld miracles he has 
performed. Have I not seen him heal the 
sick, restore sight to the blind, and cast out 
devils? By these signs we, his disciples, 
know of a surety that he is the Promised 
One, the Saviour of Israel. 



100 Judas 

JOSES 

It is you who jest in telling such incredible 
tales. He is our brother, Jesus. . . . He 
worked at the same bench with me year in 
and year out. How can he be the Messiah? 

Bartholomew 

Do not the prophets speak of the Son of Man 
as a divine being incarnate in the flesh of 
humanity? 

Philip 
He must of necessity be some one's brother. 

JosES 

Well, I know naught of such high questions. 
But the Rabbi at Nazareth once told me 
that the Messiah would be a descendant of 
King David. 

JUDE 

Brethren, marvel not at what I say. Jesus does 
come of royal lineage. Mary, our step- 



Judas ioi 

mother and his mother, is a descendant of 
King David. Though of a poor family, she 
has royal blood in her veins, though she 
keeps the story of it close and few know 
of it. 

Bartholomew 
Aye, I knew so ! I knew so ! 

JUDE 

iContimiitt^. 
Also, brethren — you must needs remember how 
different Jesus always was from the rest of 
us. When we thought of nothing but gew- 
gaws and playthings he used to sit on the 
hilltop back of our house, amid the flowers, 
and dream, and read the Scriptures. Many 
a time he said, even then, strange and wise 
things beyond the years of a child. And I 
have often heard him talk with angelic 
presences which he saw and conversed with, 
but which remained to me unseen and un- 
heard. He once told me that he had seen 
and conversed with the angels of God. 



102 Judas 

Simon 

I see that you seem inclined to partake of the 
same foolishness : for you and mother Mary 
always took him too seriously. 

JuDE 

Mother Mary surely believes in him. She 
always believed him to be the Messiah. 
Once she told me of a strange vision vouch- 
safed her ere his birth. 

Simon 

And why did not Joses and myself ever hear 
of all this- — of Mary's descent, and of the 
vision? 

JUDE 

Because you would have scoffed at such things 
then as you do now. 

Joses 

Aye, indeed, we are not so easily led astray 
by dreams and visions seen in the night. 



Judas 103 

Simon 

Let us forget this nonsense. I care for Jesus 
because he is my brother, and, Messiah or 
no Messiah, he is in great danger. 

JOSES 

He has gone mad. When we find him, where- 
in can we help him? Bethink yourselves if 
he is not already beyond our help. Besides, 
all we can do for him is to give him warn- 
ing, for if we brought him home Nazareth 
would not receive him kindly. The last time 
he was home he aroused the villagers to 
fury by the things he said in the synagogue. 
Even then they would have cast him from 
the summit of that very hill whereon he 
used to stand to pray. 

JUDE 

Ah, Joses, there you touch upon a mystery. 
You yourself must confess that at that time 
he exerted a strange influence over those who 
would have slain him. He imperiously bade 



I04 Judas 

them unhand him and a great awe over- 
came them and they stood aside, letting him 
depart through their midst, unharmed. 

JOSES 

As they would do with anyone reputed to be 
holy. 

JUDE 

Nay! It struck deeper than that! I almost 
believe that he Is the Messiah he claims 
to be. 

Bartholomew 

[Eagerly to Jude. 
Only remain with us till he comes from across 

the lake. You cannot help but believe in 
him when you behold the power in his face. 
And, till he comes, Philip and I will dis- 
course with you at large on the wonders he 
has wrought. 

JOSES 

Old wives' tales! 



Judas 105 

Simon 

So say I ! Come on, Jude. Don't be a fool. 
Leave the madman to his fate. There is 
no help. 

Jude 

Brethren, I will stay and see Jesus face to face 
before I decide against his claims. But go 
ye home. Father will need you at the bench. 

JOSES 

Aye! — for there are houses to build and 
gain to be made — and much talking and 
prophesying builds no houses. Come, 

Simon ! 

[Exeunt loses and Simon. 

[Philip and Bartholomew embrace and 

kiss Jude. 

Philip 

Welcome, brother of the Lord! 

Bartholomew 
Welcome, in the name of the Messiah! 



io6 Judas 

Philip 

Let them go and build their houses of wood 
and stone. But there are greater things to 
be builded — the Kingdom of God! With the 
Master we are to be joint builders of the 
New Jerusalem of which the prophets 
spake ! 

IRe-enter Judas. 

Judas 

Will the Master never come? See! It is rap- 
idly growing dark! 

Bartholomew 

Why do you not stay within and rest while 
you may? 

Judas 

I cannot. The desire to meet him face to face 
consumes me like a fire. Ah, ye know not 
how many years I have waited his coming to 
the world! Simon, Matthew, and Lebbaeus 



Judas 107 

sleep within, forspent with weariness. But 
I could not sleep. 
[To J tide. 
Are you, too, a disciple of the Master? 

JUDE 

I am his brother. I arrived but recently to 
warn him of certain perils which hung over 

him. 

[A light is seen moving far out on the 

Lake. Twilight falls rapidly, 

Judas 

Look! A light! Is that not he? 
[A long silence. 

Philip 

'Tis the light of some fisherboat, returning be- 
lated after a day of arduous toil. 

Bartholomew 

The Galilean fishers never work so late unless 
it be the time of the full moon. To-night 
only the stars are in the sky. 



io8 Judas 

Philip 

The moon is at the full and will soon rise. 

[^During the conversation a boat takes 
form and draws up on the beach. The 
disciples hasten toward it. 

Judas 
[^Eagerly. 
Hail! Master! 

First Fisherman 

Master us no masters! We be but simple 
fisherfolk. 

Second Fisherman 

But the master whom ye expect is not far be- 
hind us, in company with three others. 

Bartholomew 

[To Judas. 
He had Peter, James, and John with him — 
three fishermen. They are first in his love 



Judas 109 

because they were first to give up all they 
had and follow him. When he goes apart 
to pray they always go with him. 

[The fishermen draw the boat up on 
the beach, drag out the nets, and pre- 
pare to go. 
[Another light is seen. 

Judas 

Lo! Yon moves another light. 

[Moving across to the door of the inn. 
I must wake those who sleep within. 

[Exit Judas. 

First Fisherman 
Yes. That is he ! 

Second Fisherman 

Let us wait here until he comes ashore. Let 
us ask him where to cast our nets to-morrow. 
He might reward us with another big haul. 
We have had no luck since morning. 



no Judas 

Philip 

ITo fishers. 
You must not ask him to-night. He will be 
too tired. 

First Fisherman 

Very well! Does he lodge here? 
[Pointing at inn. 

Bartholomew 

Yes. 

Second Fisherman 

We will see him the first thing in the morning. 

First Fisherman 

And he need not be chary of us. We will 
divide up the profits with him. We will 
show him that we appreciate his help. 
[Exeunt fishers. 

[Re-enter Judas, accompanied by Mat- 
thew, Lehhaus, and Simon the Zealot. 



Judas hi 

It rapidly grows dark, until only the 
vague outlines of the disciples are visi- 
ble. They are dimly seen to crowd 
down to the beach as the light ap- 
proaches. One standing clad in white 
is seen in the bow. 



Simon 

Judas! He comes! Yonder comes the Deliv- 
erance of Israel! 

IT he disciples form in reverent ranks 
on either side, as the One in White 
steps from the boat. He walks silently 
and majestically across the stage and 
in at the door of the inn. 

Voices of the Disciples 

"Rabbi !'^ ''Master !" "Messiah !" 

\Feter, James, and John draw up the 
boat on the beach, John goes into the 
inn after Christ, Peter and James 
bide without. 



1 1 2 Judas 

Matthew 

Why came ye across so late? We expected 
you ere sunset. 

James 

We prayed apart but an hour, when many of 
the multitude, having procured boats, found 
out whither we had gone and came upon 
us. Then the Master had compassion on 
them, wept strangely, and must needs preach 
to them. This is what delayed us. 



Peter 

He preached from the hill-top, whither we 
had retired. The multitude filled the valley 
below. 

James 

He said many wise and wonderful sayings. 
Never have I heard rabbi or scribe so elo- 
quent as he. 



Judas 113 

Peter 

And after the Master had finished talking, he 
healed divers of their ills. And before we 
knew it, the sun was hidden behind the pur- 
ple summits of Carmel, and the blue smoke 
of twilight was filling the world. 

Philip 
Where are the multitudes now? 

Peter 
Look! On the Lake! There they come! 

James 

Aye! Here they come, following closely after 
us. 

Lebb^us 

The Lake seems to be sprinkled full of golden 
stars ! 

[The Lake is seen to he full of moving 

lights. 

{Re-enter John, 



114 Judas 

John 

The Master wishes to see the three new disci- 
ples from Jerusalem. 

[Exemit Lehhaiis, Judas, Simon, into 

the inn. John remains. 

Peter 

\_Pointing to the moving lights. 
Look, John. The multitudes still follow us. 
They seem never to hear enough of the 
Master's words, nor to have enough of his 
presence. 

John 

I must beg them to let the Master rest. He 
is weary with the long day. 

Peter 

[With suppressed impatience. 
They seem to think that he needs neither food 
nor sleep. They think that he is altogether 
superhuman and in no wise as they are. 



Judas 115 

John 
[Moved. 
The poor children! The poor lost sheep of 
Israel! 

[The boats, with lights ^ draw closer 
and closer. Some land on the beach 
at back, some scatter to left and right 
and land where the beach is not visi- 
ble. Then, from all entrances pilgrims 
overwhelm the stage. The moon rises 
from over the Lake. In the white 
ghostly light of it are seen sick men 
home on pallets, men with crutches, 
blind men being led, etc. Several blind 
men grope to front alone. 

A Former Paralytic 

Glory to the God of Israel! I walk for the 
first time in years ! He but commanded me 
to walk, and it was accomplished! 

One Formerly Blind^ Now Seeing 

And I see for the first time in years ! Ah, yon 
is the moon of my childhood . . . and there 



1 1 6 Judas 

it has been for years, and I saw it not in my 
blindness until this night. It covers all the 
face of the earth, and the bosom of the 
dancing waters of the Lake, with its glory — 
I thank thee, God! 



A Blind Man, Groping About 

Ah, would that I, too, might see the moon! 
I have never seen it, nor the flowers, nor 
the birds, nor the green fields, in all my 
life! 

A Pilgrim 

» 

Brethren, he whom we seek is within the inn. 
He came over in a boat just a little ahead 
of us. But we must not all crowd into the 
inn together. Let a few of us enter and im- 
plore him to come out and have compassion 
on the afflicted. 

{Enter the innkeeper, attracted by the 
hubbub, his temper considerably ruf- 
fled. 



Judas 117 

Innkeeper 

Indeed, and ye shall not come in, either sev- 
erally or together! Unless you have lodg- 
ings here, none of you shall come in. 

A Voice 
But we will go In ! 

Another Voice 
We would see the Master! 

Another Voice 

If you do not wish us to go in, let him come 
unto us. 

John 

[^From near steps of the inn. 
Good people! Even the Great Healer of 
men's ills is at times in need of rest and 
space of leisure. His power cannot always 
go out of him without replenishment. Will 
you not allow him who has done so much 
for you time for sleep and refreshment? 



I I 8 Judas 

A Voice 

We cannot wait. Some of us are at the point 
of death. 

Peter 

{Testily. 

You will have to wait, whether you will or no ! 

Innkeeper 

A little more of this unrullness and I shall call 
on the Roman centurion for help. He 
stands ever ready to put down tumults. 

John 

[To Peter, who is about to speak an- 
grily, laying his hand on his arm. 
Peace, Peter ! Govern your temper. Remem- 
ber that you are no longer Peter the fisher- 
man, but Peter, the disciple of the Messiah ! 

Peter 

I can hardly contain myself with such an In- 
considerate folk. The Master has already 



Judas 119 

drawn on his power to the uttermost for 
them. And they neither show gratitude nor 
bate one jot of their Importunity. 

Innkeeper 

[To Peter. 
Shall I send for the Romans? 

Peter 
No. 

[To the people. 
Good folk, be reasonable. Walt till morning, 
and the Master will heal you once more. 

A Leader of the People 

[Turning to assemblage. 
Perhaps it would be better to wait till to-mor- 
row! Remember, he has already done 
much for us. So let us, each one, disperse 
till daybreak. 

A Pilgrim 

Well, then, I am willing to wait, though I suf- 
fer grievously, and cannot sleep. 



I20 Judas 

The Leader 

Come, then, let us all go apart and rest. 
[Exeunt pilgrims. 

Innkeeper 

I was never so pestered in all my life. I never 
saw anything like this, excepting when 

Peter 

It is too late for the spinning of endless tales. 
[To John, 

Let us within and snatch what rest we can. 

[Exeunt innkeepery John, and Peter, 
Enter Hillel and Ezra, two Pharisees. 
They cast a few pebbles against the side 
of the inn. Enter servant of the inn- 
keeper, 

Ezra 

[To servant. 
Have you done as we required of you? 



Judas 121 

Servant 
[Bowing low. 
Yes, Rabbi. 

Ezra 

[To Hillel, vehemently. 
And now shall we bring to a speedy end this 
reviler of our sect — this pretender who 
stops not at any blasphemy against the Law 
and the Prophets and the person of Jehovah 
himself, so long as it subserves his vile pur- 
poses! 

Hillel 

I cannot understand why the Council had not 
long ere this brought this fellow to sudden 
account. 

Ezra 

They are just men, and Justice must be sure 
of herself and move slow. 

Hillel 

Let those in authority beware lest, with their 
tardy sessions, they let hirn slip through their 
fingers. 



122 Judas 

Ezra 

This time we will make sure that he has no 
loophole of escape. All Israel will join in 
thanking us for our rapid action. 
[To servant. 

Have you ascertained? Is he now within? 

Servant 
[Bowing. 
He abides within, master. Did I not inform 
you yesterday that he lodged here? 

HiLLEL 

But that Is not now. 

Servant 

Not less than an hour ago he returned from 
the other shore of the Sea of Galilee. 

Ezra 

How many accompany him? 



Judas 123 

Servant 

Twelve. I would warn you to beware of them. 
Many of them are rough fishermen. 

HiLLEL 

We will not soil our hands with them. The 
soldiers will quickly put their violence down. 

Ezra 
How long has he been within? 

Servant 
But a little while. 

HiLLEL 

I mean how long has he made this inn his 
abiding place? 

Servant 
Ten days. 

Ezra 

And has he during that time broken any of the 
laws of Moses? 



124 Judas 

Servant 

All of them, Rabbi ! He calls himself Sent of 
God, and yet he sits at meat with publicans, 
harlots, and sinners. He regards not the 
Sabbath day. He says that man was not 
made for the Sabbath, but the Sabbath for 
man; and once, when one of your holy sect 
rebuked him for his loose manner of living, 
he replied that he came to heal the sick, not 
the well! 

HiLLEL 

He IS a blasphemer. The man exceeds all 
bounds. 

[To servant. 
Where lodges he? 

Servant 
In the room that opens on the shore. 

Ezra 

That Is enough. You may go now — and God 
and the local Sanhedrin will reward you. I 



Judas 125 

will bring the matter of your service up be- 
fore the next meeting of the Council. 

Servant 

May God bless you with old age, masters. 
[Exit. 

Ezra 

And now to the centurion's house ! 



HiLLEL 

Have we sufficient grounds of complaint to 
warrant Roman Interference? The laws 
that this man has broken are religious, not 
political. 

Ezra 

Do not his disciples hail him as the Messiah? 

HiLLEL 

Then we can easily prove that he seeks to 
raise a tumult. And he is dangerous. We 
must no longer delay. The time of the Pass^. 



126 Judas 

over draws nigh, and if he goes down to 
Jerusalem to inflame the multitude against 
us there 

HiLLEL 

They will stone him to death! 

Ezra 

They will not stone him to death. Has any- 
one cast a stone at him yet? And he has 
already turned hundreds against us — for he 
Is a man of great power. 

[Re-enter servant^ hastily. 

Servant 

While passing by, I heard them talking apart 
and listened closely to their conversation. 
And, oh, masters, they are on the eve of 
starting a great uprising. I heard them 
speaking of the twelve tribes of Israel, and 
how each one of the twelve disciples was to 
be governor over a tribe. And the Wonder- 
worker himself claimed direct command 
from God. He is to be King! 



Judas 127 

Ezra 

Enough ! Come with us. You must repeat 
this in the presence of the Roman com- 
mander. When he has heard of this he will 
take the carpenter of Nazareth into custody 
immediately. 

[Exeunt Pharisees and servant. Enter, 
from the inn, John and Judas. 

John 

You were a long time with the Master alone ! 
'Tis a privilege vouchsafed to few. 



Judas 

Yes, I was with him a long time. We talked 
of many things. 

John 

Tell me, I pray you, what you talked about. 
I am eager to hear every word that falls like 
a pearl from his lips. 



128 Judas 

Judas 

As soon as I came into his presence, he arose 
from the couch on which he reclined, and 
took my hand, calling me by my proper 
name. He told me all that I ever did. 
Hail, richest and poorest man in all Judea! 
— thus he greeted me. 

I am indeed the richest man in Judea, accord- 
ing to mouth-to-mouth rumor, I replied — 
But poorest also? How can that be? I 
beg you to unfold the meaning of your dark 
saying. Master! 

Poor are you, Judas, in things of the spirit, 
he replied. After that he said many things 
which I cannot understand. Suffice to say 
that his wonderful words and the light that 
shines forth from his face have convinced 
me that he is the Messiah for whom Israel 
waits — ^but 

John 

And why stumble you over that last word as 
a blind man stumbles over a stone? 



Judas 129 

Judas 

One thing he bade me do, the reason for which 
I cannot comprehend. When I offered him, 
for his own use, all my wealth (and it was 
no easy thing for me to do that), he bade 
me return with him to Jerusalem, sell all I 
had, and give the gold to the poor. Not 
until then can you become a true disciple of 
mine, he said. And when I expressed my 
willingness to obey him, but begged him to 
let me rather hire soldiers and bribe officials 
with the money, that he might the more eas- 
ily win to the throne of David, he shook his 
head, smiled, and answered not. 

John 

The cause of God needs faith, not gold! Be- 
think you of the story of Gideon — how, 
with a handful of warriors, he won victory 
over a great multitude, because God fought 
on his side. Are you not familiar with the 
prophecies which tell of the coming of the 
Son of Man! 



130 Judas 

Judas 

Yes, and those same prophecies tell how God 
chooses to work His will through man and 
the Power of men. 

John 

True. Through men who are all aflame with 
the vision of the coming glory of the King- 
dom of God. But not through Mammon 
and the strength of mercenaries whose souls 
are not one with ours. 

Judas 

Then must the Master bide his time till he 
has a sufficient following of those who be- 
lieve in him. 

John 

Ah, you begin to see aright, and not perversely, 
after the manner of men. Nor will the 
Messiah need such a great band of followers 
as you deem. Perhaps we twelve, at the 



Judas 131 

appointed time, might be transferred into a 
host. With the omnipotent arm of God 
sweeping in the van of the battle; with the 
cohorts of the seraphim coming to our aid, 
we might, indeed, trample the kings of the 
world like dust beneath our feet. 

Judas 

In that case I am willing to sell all. Forgive 
me my blindness. But somewhat I must re- 
serve of my wealth, for the comfort of the 
Master and ourselves, O John! 

John 

Nay, not even that — God will provide, does 
provide, for us from day to day. Ah, Ju- 
das, your love is great, but it is blind like 
the love of the Greeks! 

Judas 

I call Jehovah to witness how I love this Man 
of Nazareth . . . yet, I confess I hardly 
grasp his intent. But he who heals the sick 



132 Judas 

and knows all things cannot be at fault. It 

is / who am at fault. 

[Enter Simon, hurriedly and per- 
plexed, « 

Simon 
[To John. 
The Master would see you within. 



John 

He must not consume himself like this. Be- 
tween his disciples and those who would be 
healed, he gets no rest. I am anxious for 
him. For to-morrow we have a long 
journey. 

[Exit John. 

Judas 

[Eagerly to Simon, 
Well! 

[They stare at each other fixedly for 

a space. 
Come! What think you, Simon? 



Judas 133 

Simon 

That he Is the Messiah. I do not doubt that. 
He had me alone with him but now! Ah, 
he Is wonderful — yet 

Judas 
Ah, what Inexplicable thing has he required of 



you? 



Simon 



Something I cannot understand. He Is to be 
King of the Jews: that means that he must 
first expel the Romans from Judea. And 
yet he bade me cast away my dagger. 

Judas 

That one with the jewelled hilt which was 
given you when you joined the Zealots? 

Simon 

The same. The one that John of GIscala gave 
me. With It have I full often avenged 
desecrations of the Laws of God. 



134 Judas 

Judas 

But why did he bid you cast it away? Did he 
give any reasons? 

Simon 

None beyond a dark saying. As soon as I 
came before him he asked me, Simon, my 
son, what is that which you carry in the 
folds of your bosom? 

Nothing, Master, I replied. 

Nay, hold it forth, he returned. 

I have naught but a dagger, I admitted. 

I drew it forth. 

See — it is dark with blood! he exclaimed. 

Nay, you mistake, I replied. I polish it every 
day. 

The same blood that darkens the blade of this 
dagger also darkens your soul, he said, his 
voice quivering like a woman's with a 
strange pity. Come! he commanded; come! 
We opened a door and stepped out into the 
moonlight. The waters of the Lake spar- 
kled at our feet. Fling it far, he suddenly 



JUPAS 135 

commanded, turning sternly upon me; fling 
it far out — let It be lost to the clasp of your 
hand forever! I obeyed like one in a 
dream. It flew from my hand, and scat- 
tered as it were a shower of diamonds 
when It smote the waves. My dagger, 
which was consecrated to the avenging of 
the wrongs of Israel! 
Those that use violence perish by violence, he 
told me as I left him, troubled at heart. 



Judas 

Simon, I, too, was troubled at heart as I left 
him. He bade me give up all my wealth 
to the poor. 

[They stare at each other dumbly for 
a moment, 

Simon 

What does this all mean? Does he hope to 
win the Kingdom for God without swords, 
without money — with the naked hand? 



136 Judas 

Judas 

Simon! We must not doubt! Perhaps he 
leans wholly on the Power of God, as did 
our Fathers. Perhaps he has strength and 
power which we as yet wot not of ! 

Simon 

Well, anyhow, in spite of temporary misgiv- 
ings, I am satisfied that he knows best. He 
must have unsuspected sources of Power to 
draw from, as you suggest. We must trust 
him, and sweep on to victory under his ban- 
ner. Then, after he sits on the throne of 
Israel, will come our reward. You will get 
a province in place of the loss of your 
wealth. I shall govern a tribe. We are 
twelve. There are twelve tribes in Israel. 

Judas 

What mean you? That each of the twelve 
followers of the Master is to rule over a 
tribe? 



Judas 137 

Simon 

The very same. James, one of the sons of 
Zebedee, confided in me to that effect while 
you were closeted with the Master. 

Judas 

But does the Master confirm this with his own 
words? 

Simon 

I do not know. But at some time he must 
have. Why else should he have chosen just 
twelve, and no more? 

[Enter, in moonlight, Sabinus, the Ro- 
man centurion, cloaked. 

Judas 

[Wheeling on him. 
What would you, sir? 

Sabinus 

I seek a man, one Jesus. He who heals the 
sick and condemns the Pharisees. 



'mmmmmmmm 



138 Judas 

Simon 
Have you aught to be healed of? 

Sabinus 
I come not to be healed. 



Judas 

Then what would you with the Master, and 
why do you affect such mystery of manner? 

Sabinus 

[Throwing hack cloak and revealing 
himself. 
I am Sabinus, the Roman centurion in charge 
of the troops here at Capernaum. 

Simon 

Then you come to take him prisoner! 

[Clutching where he formerly kept his 

dagger, 

\To Judas. 
Alas, I have thrown it away! 



Judas 139 



Sabinus 



If I come to take him, why have I come alone? 
Tell me, where is he? 

Judas 

\^Hesitatin^. 
He Is not within. 

Sabinus 

I mean him no harm. Answer me truly. 

Judas 
Well, he is within, then. If you would know. 

Sabinus 

Go Inform him that Sabinus, the centurion, 
would speak with him immediately! 

\_Exit Simon, to re-enter almost im- 
mediately. 

Simon 
He sleeps. We must not waken him. 



I40 Judas 

Sabinus 

Then bring me one of the fishermen whom he 
affects the most, Peter, or John, the son of 
Zebedee. 

lExit Simon, to re-enter with Peter. 

Peter 
Sabinus ! 

[They embrace, while Simon and Judas 

look on in wonderment. 

What do you here? 

Sabinus 

Peter! I come In haste to warn the Master 
of the peril that hangs over him. The 
Pharisees have Informed against him. They 
say that he wishes to set himself up as the 
King of Judea. In consequence, I shall be 
obliged to take him Into custody this very 
night. But he who has healed my daughter, 
sick unto death — him I cannot see come to 
harm. Bid him leave here before the chang- 
ing of the watch. 



Judas 141 

Peter 

There will be a place In the Kingdom for such 
as you, generous-hearted Gentile ! 

Sabinus 

I am not bothering about this Kingdom you 
Jews seem to be so fond of dreaming about, 
this Kingdom half in heaven, half on earth. 
Still, your Master is a wonderful man, and 
the gods have not sent him into the world 
without somewhat of a divine gift. I love 
him for what he has done for me. I would 
save him from mischance. So see to it that 
he is warned — that you flee the place im- 
mediately. I now go to perform my duty. 

Peter 
Your duty? 

Sabinus 

[Martially and impersonally. 
My duty as a soldier and a Roman. If the 
Healer has not left before this watch ex- 



142 Judas 

plres, I must come with my soldiers and 
take him. 

\_Exit Sahinus. 

Simon 
The Romans are a strange people. 

Peter 
Thus have they conquered the world. 

Judas 
But whither shall we flee? 

Peter 
To Jersualem! 

Judas 

Jehovah must indeed be with us. Never could 
there be a fitter time. The city will be 
crowded with worshippers at the Temple. 
A word from the Master will fill them all 
with a divine fury. 

[The moon passes behind a cloud. 



Judas 143 



Peter 



The Kingdom of God presses upon us. 

[Exeunt all into the inn. After a space 
the twelve apostles pass across the 
stage, with Christ, dimly seen, at their 
head, and disappear to the right. 

Curtain 



ACT III 

SCENE I 

The palace gardens of Herod at Casarea 
Philippi. To left, door opening onto H erodes 
Palace, To right, hack, stands an altar to 
Apollo. 

Herod and his chief steward discovered at 
rise of curtain, 

Herod 

See that the banquet be prepared at the ap- 
pointed time. 

Steward 

It shall be ready, honorable Tetrarch. 

Herod 

Broach a cask of my finest wine. Set the 
tables with the golden service my father was 
wont to use when he entertained ambassa- 
dors of the first rank from Rome. 

144 



Judas 145 

Steward 
As you command, honorable Tetrarch. 

Herod 

Be prepared to entertain at least ten more at 
the principal table. I am In receipt of 
news that Pilate, the Procurator of Judea, 
comes to visit me. 

Steward 

You shall have a banquet fit for the palate of 
the Emperor himself, most honorable Tet- 
rarch. 

l^Exit steward. 

Herod 
{^Clapping hands in summons. 



Slave ! 
Slave ! 

Slave ! 



\_A pause, 
^Sharper, 



146 Judas 

[Enter Zabdiel, a Jewish slave. 
What, Zabdiel, dog! You answer tardily — 

you deserve to be whipped! Bring me my 

morning oblation! 

\JExit slave, to return shortly with a 
howl of wine. Herod takes the howl, 
and, crossing stage, halts before the 
altar and invokes Apollo, 

Herod 

Hall, Apollo ! Bright god of the world's glad- 
ness! To thee this libation I pour. Give 
ear to me, child of Latona and brother of 
Venus — give ear to me, and banish thou 
from my heart this melancholy which pos- 
sesseth me. Lift from my soul this fear of 
the God of the Jews. Be thou my god, 
for thou art the king of gladness, and thy 
feet move ever to the melody of many 
harps! Hear, O Apollo, hear! 

IPours libation, and hands hack the 
empty howl to the slave, who shudders 
as he takes it. 



Judas 147 

Herod 
Why do you tremble, knave? 

Zabdiel 
I am a Jew — I fear the wrath of Jehovah! 

Herod 

Apollo Is greater than He! 

[Herod also shudders involuntarily, 
then angers at his weakness and turns 
wrath fully on Zabdiel to hide it, 

Herod 

Avoid my sight ! I will henceforth have none 
but Greeks to wait upon my person. For 
this you shall forth to the vineyards! 

Zabdiel 
God's will be done, Master! 



148 Judas 

Herod 

[ Threatening. 
Go ! I like not your countenance of gloom. 
But the Greeks wear cheer on their faces ! 
[Exit Zahdiel, 

Herod 

[Again clapping his hands. 
Ho, Antlnous! 

[Enter, with alacrity, the Greek slave, 
Antinous. 

Herod 

Bring hither a goblet of wine ! 
[Exit Antinous, 

Herod 
[Solus. 
Yonder comes Pilate. It were good that he 
come upon me as I am about to pour a li- 
bation to Caesar! 

[Re-enter Antinous, with wine. 



Judas 149 

Herod 

[Taking goblet, 
Antinous ! Where were you when I summoned 
before? 

Antinous 

I was weaving chaplets of roses for the feast — 
I had thought Zabdiel 

Herod 

[Interrupting. 
Zabdiel goes forth to the vineyards! Hence- 
forth you are to attend upon my person en- 
tirely. I will have no more Jews about me ! 
[Flourish of trumpets. Enter Pilate 
and retinue, as Herod stands, goblet 
in hand. 

Herod 

[With affected surprise. 
Ah! Procurator! Welcome to Caesarea! 
Come ! Join with me in the pouring of my 
daily libation to Caesar! 



150 Judas 

Pilate 

Willingly. But let me pour It. It is befitting 
that I, being Procurator of all Judea, and 
viceroy of the Emperor, should do so. 

[Herod hands over the gohlet to Pilate. 

Pilate 

To thee, O Emperor! 

[Pouring out wine. 

Sole representative of the gods on earth, mon- 
arch of the. habitable world, thyself a god! 
Mayest thou live and rule a thousand years 
of peace, and may thy coffers be ever filled 
with tribute of gold from all the nations! 



Herod 
So be It ! 

Retinue 
So be it! 

[Pilate returns the cup to Herod, who, 
in turn, hands it to Antinous. 



Judas 151 

Herod 

And now, friend Pilate, due honor having 
been paid the Emperor, whence this sudden 
visit? Have I done aught that Rome mis- 
likes? I adjure you, by our former friend- 
ship at Rome, to tell me. 

Pilate 

My visit has naught to do with the Emperor. 
I have come on a mission of private enter- 
prise. I have come all the way .from Jerusa- 
lem to seek advice from you as touching a 
certain matter. I am more a soldier than a 
diplomat, as you well know, and am not 
versed in the nice points of the varying cus- 
toms of the different nations. Readier am I 
with the sword than with the pen. But I 
had always prided myself on my knowledge 
of men and my ability to manage them. 

However, these Jews seem to be a class of men 
by themselves ! 



152 Judas 

Herod 
Ah! 

[Frowns. 
I understand. You have run counter to one of 
their many superstitions ! 

Pilate 

I shall tell you in few words my difficulty. But 
a fortnight ago, while stationed at Strato's 
Tower, by the sea, I sent ahead, under cover 
of night, the ensigns and emblems of Roman 
sovereignty, meaning to follow by daylight 
into Jerusalem. I had been advised by those 
who knew somewhat of Jewish character not 
to do this. I was told that such an act would 
be sure to cause a tumult. But, thought I, 
why should a people which has become sub- 
ject to the Emperor quarrel with the symbols 
of his sovereignty? However, as events 
proved, I had been rightly advised. For, 
with the break of day, the news of what I 
had done ran about the country with in- 
credible swiftness. Before I could get my 



Judas 153 

soldiers under way, hundreds of Jews had 
already arrived from Jerusalem, to protest 
against what they called a sacrilege. I re- 
solved to silence their clamor with a show of 
sternness. I threatened them with death If 
they did not become quiet. At a given sig- 
nal from me my soldiers surrounded the 
multitude and menaced them with the naked 
sword. I cried out to them that they should 
either admit Caesar's images into their city 
or be there cut to pieces: then, as if at a 
signal, they all fell down, bared their necks, 
and cried out with one voice that they would 
sooner be slain than have their Law trans- 
gressed. What can one do with such a 
people? 

Herod 

If you knew the Jews as well as I do, you 
would not marvel at this. 



Pilate 
Their superstition is indeed prodigious. 



154 Judas 

Herod 

Their religion is their life, Procurator. My 
father knew well how to manage them. He 
built them the great temple at Jerusalem — 
and then wrung from them all he wished. 

Pilate 

You mean that they are so obstinate that they 
will suifer death rather than concede a point 
of their Law? 

Herod 

Have you not recently found that to be true? 
There is hardly a Jew so poor-spirited but 
will defy the whole world rather than break 
a single commandment of Moses, their Law- 
giver. Even those who are slaves will make 
trouble. 

Pilate 

With such a spirit how have they become a con- 
quered people? 



Judas 155 

Herod 

It IS because of this spirit that they have. No 
sooner are they masters of themselves than 
they fall to fighting among each other as to 
whether the Law requires that both the wrists 
and the hands ought to be washed before eat- 
ing, or the hands merely — or some such triv- 
ial matter ! 

Pilate 

They are a nation of madmen! 

Herod 

Aye! And those who rule them best humor 
their madness and take advantage of it. 

Pilate 
As a soldier it Irks me to do this. 

Herod 

'Tis the only course. I myself have had my 
own bitter experience in running counter to 



156 Judas 

their superstitions. For a time I jeopar- 
dized my very life by having had the 
Prophet John beheaded. 



Pilate 

I have heard somewhat of him: he lived like 
one possessed, in the wilderness, 'tis said; 
ate locusts and wild honey; ran half-naked; 
delivered long harangues to those who sought 
after him. And you put him to death! 
Why did you do so? How could he have 
harmed youf 

Herod 

He continually reviled and attacked me before 
the people. I grew afraid of his power and 
had him put to death. 



Pilate 

Grew afraid of a vagabond's power! Can a 
beggar so sway the minds of men? 



Judas 157 

Herod 

Yes! here In Judea. Thousands would have 
obeyed his least command. At a word from 
him my life would have been forfeit. For 
he called himself the Forerunner. 

Pilate 

I am puzzled. The Forerunner? Of what or 
whom? 

Herod 
Of the Christ. 

Pilate 

Ah! Of HIM I have heard somewhat, too! 
You mean that he claimed to forerun and 
prepare the way for this Christ, this king 
whom the Jews expect! And do they mis- 
deem that this expected king of theirs can 
conquer the Romans? 

Herod 

They do. For he will be more than a mortal 
man. He will be what the Greeks call a 
demigod. 



158 Judas 

Pilate 

Somewhat like Hercules, I suppose. With us 
Romans, gods and demigods no longer walk 
the world. All that belongs to years long 
past, to the golden age of which our poets 
sing. 

Herod 

But with the Jews their God is always walking 
the earth; their golden age is yet to come. 

Pilate 

A foolish people! 
[Suddenly. 
But, tell me, you affect not these superstitions? 

Herod 

[Hesitating. 
Nay. I am more a Roman than a Jew. My 
family is Idumean. But for policy's sake I 
make an outward show of respect toward 
their traditions and beliefs. 



Judas 159 

Pilate 

Which worship you — the gods of sensible men, 
the powers of nature, the deities which move 
the sun and moon, which govern the tides 
of the sea, the growth of grain, and the lives 
of men — or this absurd god of theirs, whose 
works are inevident and invisible, and who 
has neither image nor sign that his worship- 
pers may know him? 

Herod 

Behold this altar to Apollo ! Is not that an- 
swer enough? 

\_Enter captain of palace guards, 

Herod 

\fro captain: 
What would you? 

Captain 

I first crave your pardon, O Tetrarch, for the 
news that I bring. 



1 60 Judas 

Herod 
'TIs granted. Say on! 

Captain 

But evil are the tidings that I bring and much 
to be wondered at. 

Herod 
Say on ! You shall not be harmed. 

Captain 

[JVith fear in his voice. 
John the Baptist has risen from the dead. 

Herod 

[Shaking with fear. 
Why, 'tis impossible ! I saw his severed head 
with my own eyes — on a charger! 

[^Turning savagely on the captain. 
You lie ! What new conspiracy is this? 



Judas i6i 

Captain 

[Flinging himself at H erodes feet. 
Remember your word, master! 

Herod 

[Recovering himself with an effort. 
Rise! Fear not! 

Pilate 

[To captain. 
Why come you to us with such an absurd tale? 
Risen from the dead! Who ever heard of 
such a thing? 

Captain 

[Answering Pilate. 
I 

Herod 

[Interrupting. 
I saw them carry the body out. I saw his 
severed head with the eyes shut. 

[Turning infuriated on the captain. 
Whence have you this dreadful tale? 



1 62 Judas 

Pilate 

[Surprised at Herod. 
Dreadful tale, forsooth! Then you give cre- 
dence, O Herod, to such an idle rumor? 
Why, in Rome we would have had this man 
stripped and whipped for his foolish babble. 

Herod 

[Obsessed with the rumor; not heeding 
Pilate; seizes captain by the wrist. 
Have you seen him? 

Captain 

I have seen him. He is the very image of John 
the Baptist. There could be no mistaking 
him. And once more he preaches and calls 
people to repentance. 

Herod 

[Stricken with superstitious terror. 
Where bides he now? 



Judas 163 

Captain 
Here — in Caesarea. 

Herod 
Where and when was he last seen? 

Captain 

I myself saw him but a while ago — In the gar- 
dens nigh the Temple to Pan. 

Herod 

[Hoarsely to Pilate. 
Come, let us go within! The air, methlnks, 
has turned chill of a sudden 

Captain 
Shall I see to It that the guards are doubled? 

Herod 

Who can guard one's self against a man who 
overcomes death? 



1 64 Judas 

[At this juncture the captain of the 
guards begins to stare fixedly into the 
distance. Herod and Pilate, looking in 
the same direction, appear transfixed. 

Captain 

[Awe-stricken. 
Yon is he, with his disciples! 

Herod 
Ah! 

[To captain. 

Follow him. See if it be he or his ghost. But 

do not molest him. Would I had not slain 

him! 

[Exit captain of the guards. 

Pilate 

'Tis a monstrous land and a monstrous people. 
In Italy I would have laughed at this. In 
Judea, I tremble ! I am already myself half 
a Jew. . . . 

[The palace door is flung open. Music 
heard within. Steward appears. 



Judas 165 

Chief Steward 

[Bowing low. 
Master, the feast is prepared; the tables are 
ready, and some of the guests have already 
assembled. 

Herod 

[Shaking himself free from the Thing 

that haunts him. 
Come, friends, within we shall have companion- 
ship, the latest gossip and news from Rome. 
Wine ! Music ! 

[Exeunt all through the palace door. 

SCENE II 

Further on in the garden. 
John, Thomas, and Peter discovered at rise 
of curtain. 

John 

My heart is desolate ! He has fled from even 
us, in whom he has hitherto been wont to 
trust and confide. He has gone to the moun- 
tain, alone, to pray. 



I 66 Judas 

Peter 

Be of good cheer! I know he has not forsaken 
us. 

Thomas 

It seems to me that he labors under great tribu- 
lation of spirit. Where be those who he 
said would come to make him king? 

John 
Be assured; they will come. 

Thomas 

Yet why should he flee these men who would 
hail him as king? Is not that the mark at 
which he has aimed these several years? 

John 

In the fulfilment of his time he shall be crowned 
— ^but not by human hands: the angels of 
God and the seraphim will crown him. 



Judas 167 

Thomas 

The angels and the seraphim I have never seen 
— and until they flash into visibility before 
my very eyes, I will not believe that any 
prophet, however great, can evoke from the 
sky the cohorts of God — not even the Be- 
loved One! 

Peter 

Then you do not believe in him ! 'Tis incred- 
ible, after all you have seen. 

Thomas 

All I have seen I believe. That which I have 
not seen I do not believe. 

John 
You believe not that he is the Messiah, then? 

Thomas 

I would indeed rejoice were he to prove himself 
the Hope of Israel. 



I 68 Judas 

Peter 
Has he not thus far fulfilled all his promises? 

Thomas 

Is it meet that the God-appointed King of 
Israel should flee for his very life from the 
Pharisees of Jerusalem? 

John 

When the fulness of his time comes, he will not 
flee. 

Thomas 

[Dejectedly. 
Will It ever come? 

[A pause. 
And here we now are, put to flight like sheep 
before wolves. A fine way to begin the 
Kingdom ! 

Peter 

Because you have not faith you will not turn 
traitor and desert the Master? At this time 
of times when he needs us all the most? 



Judas 169 

Thomas 

[Stung to the quick. 
Nay! I will follow him even to the death — 
Prophet, Healer, Messiah — whatever he 
prove to be! 

John 

[Affected by the sincerity of Thomas. 
Only have faith in him, Thomas. But, lo! 
yonder come those who would crown him. 
[Enter a party of Galileans. 

Peter 

I know all of them. They are fellow-citizens 
of mine. 

First Galilean 
Ah, Peter! Where bides he whom you follow? 

Thomas 

[To find if Christ's prophecy of their 
coming he true. 
What would you with him? 



170 Judas 

First Galilean 

We have come to gladden his heart with a 
crown of gold. 

[Showing crown, 

Thomas 
By whose authority would you crown him? 

Second Galilean 

By the authority of the people of Galilee who 
tire of paying Roman taxes and imposts. 
There are thousands who would acclaim him 
king, if we but crowned him. 

First Galilean 

And if we first hail him as such, when he sits 
on the throne of all Judea, Galilee and its 
interests will be first in his heart. 

Peter 

Return to your homes, brethren, for know that 
at the appointed time God himself will 



Judas 171 

crown him, after a wonderful and unheard- 
of fashion. 

John 

He IS not to be crowned of men, but through 
God. He saw you coming, In a vision, and 
fled to avoid you. 

First Galilean 
He saw us coming and fled to avoid us, did he? 

Second Galilean 

A pretty Messiah, this — to flee from the crown 
he coveted and fain would accept, were he 
not too weak to take it! Oh, for another 
Maccabee to fight for the Cause of the Chil- 
dren of Israel, as of yore! 

First Galilean 

And now we plainly see that he is not worthy 
of a crown: death should be his portion; he 
has deluded half of Judea ! 



172 Judas 

Second Galilean 

He has wrought miracles all these years to 
none effect 

First Galilean 

We will have no more patience with him. We 
will seek him no further. He is an impostor. 
[^Exeunt Galileans. 

Thomas 

Behold! By that you can see how the people 
have begun to feel. Something must be done 
soon, or we shall all be taken and crucified. 
We shall not much longer be permitted to 
go down to Jerusalem in a body for festi- 
vals, with the Master casting words about 
like live scorpions and the bite of vipers. 
The Pharisees are already flayed raw by his 
condemnation of them. 

[^Peter and John bow their heads, sor- 
rowfully and answer nothing. A long 
silence intervenes. Thomas paces up 
and down in sorrowful thought. 



Judas 173 

Peter 

[To John. 
'TIs time we depart. The Master bade us 
meet him, with James, at the foot of the 
mount whither he retired to pray. 

John 

Yes, 'tis time for us to go to him. For there 
is a new thing in his face which I have never 
seen there before, and which, I must confess, 
fills my soul with a strange foreboding. 
[To Thomas. 

Of course you know that we foregather nigh 
the temple of Pan, at sunset to-day? 

Thomas 
'Tis well you informed me. I knew it not. 

Peter 
The Master missed you the other day. 



174 Judas 

Thomas 

That was three days ago, when I discoursed 
all day with the priest of Pan concerning 
the nature of God. I have found that he, 
too, worships a God who is One and whose 
Spirit informs All. 

Peter 

[^Impatiently. 
Now you see how it is! You leave the pres* 
ence of the Master to walk and talk with 
the Pagans. Is it any wonder that you doubt 
him? 

John 

Come, Peter, we must make haste. He already 
expects us. 

[Exeunt Peter and John. 
[Thomas pacing backward and for^ 
ward, immersed in deep thought, and 
sighing from time to time. 



Judas 175 

THO^L\s 
\_Soliis. 

And yet not John, not Peter, not James, loves 

him with a love surpassing mine. But I — I 

must see — I must hear — I must feel — ^Ah, 

God, have mercy upon me! 

[Enter Judas and Simon, disconsolate. 

JuDAS 

[Almost fiercely. 
Yea ! I have given up all for him — all — ALL — 
and do you think that I would have gone to 
such an extreme were I not convinced that he 
is the One who has come to lead Israel to 
victory over the Gentiles? 

Slmox 
And if he prove after all not to be the Mes- 



siah? 



THO^L\s 



[Suddenly, from behind. 
Aye! If he prove not to be the Messiah! 



176 Judas 

Judas 

[Wheeling on him. 
I know that he is the Messiah, because of the 
wonders he has worked, the sick he has 
healed. 

Thomas 

Then why this delay, this hesitation from day 
to day? When we set out from Capernaum 
at the time of the last festival, to go down 
to Jerusalem, we reeled drunk with the joy 
of the coming Kingdom; we already seemed 
to see the circle of the heavens ablaze with 
cohorts of seraphim and cherubim clad in 
celestial armor. At that time I did not 
doubt. I had no reason to doubt. But what 
came of it all? A few disputes with the 
Pharisees, the healing of a sick man here 
and there — and then our foes began to close 
in about us — the Lawgivers, the Pharisees, 
the Sadducees — and we, we, the followers 
of him who would be King and Saviour 
of Israel — yea, he, himself — fled like run- 



Judas 177 

away slaves who take to the wilderness to 
escape punishment for disobedience ! 

Simon 
Judas! What have you to answer to that? 

Judas 

Listen, Thomas — for you, by doubting, have 
awakened still more the fire within me, that 
began to smoulder even before we fled from 
Jerusalem. I have pondered the problem 
long, and, little by little. It has been given 
to me to understand. I understand all now. 
Like a revelation It has come clear to me on 
the Instant — why the Messiah, the Chosen of 
God, should flee from before the wrath of 
men. It Is the care of the world, the clogging 
of the flesh In which his being moves, that 
weakens day by day the Power within him. 
So, Chosen of Jehovah though he be, day by 
day his light darkens and wanes In the night 
of the world's unbelief ! 

[With great earnestness. 



178 Judas 

It is we, It is we, who must urge him on to the 
fulfilment of that for which he came! 

Simon 
And how? 

Judas 

I know not how as yet. I must consider; and, 
when I have considered, I shall not palter, I 
shall act! 

Thomas 

Sometimes I even wish that we might forget 
the Kingdom. I weary of all this travail. 
The love of the Master is, after all, enough 
kingdom for me. 

[Thomas starts to leave. 

Simon 
Thomas, whither wend you? 

Thomas 

I go to hold further converse with the priest 
of Pan, if he be free from the sacrifices at 
this hour. 



Judas 179 

Judas 

[JVith all the religious ferocity of the 
Jew, 
Idolater! 

Thomas 
Why, how now, Judas? 

Judas 

Go, and discourse with the priest of Pan con- 
cerning his pagan gods of wood and stone. 
Go, bide with him forever since you dare 
to doubt! 

Thomas 

Nay, I dare not believe what I begin to hope, 
what I begin to dream, of the Kingdom 1 
[Exit Thomas. 

Judas 

{With great fire, 
Simon! Simon! The whole world shall ring, 
if I succeed in that which, for the glory of 



i8o Judas 

God, I must do ! But are you strong enough 
to accept, and to keep this thing in your 
heart? 

Simon 

Have I not been your lifelong friend, through 
good and ill? 

Judas 

You must keep what I am about to tell you as 
close as your very life. It is this: 
[A pause. 

Every time we go up to Jerusalem the Master 
is wont to go apart with the favored three, 
is he not, and pray in a certain garden? 

Simon 

Aye! 'Tis called the Garden of Gethsemane. 
It lies toward Bethany, where live Lazarus 
and his two sisters. 

Judas 

The next time we journey down to the Holy 
City I will acquaint the High Priest with 



Judas i 8 i 

this custom of his. Then If he do not 
Immediately call down the Power of God 
and vindicate his promises, I will force him 
to do so! 

Simon 

ITaken aback. 
But that would be betrayal! 

Judas 

'Twill be a glorious betrayal! 'TIs a strata- 
gem, which, if It fail not — and it cannot 
fail, he being the Chosen One of God 

Simon 

[^Breaking in with astonishment. 
Judas, have you gone mad? 

Judas 
[Rapt. 

Thus at a single stroke I will betray him most 

gloriously Into that Kingdom for which he 

came; for, caught at last in a trap from 



1 82 Judas 

which there is no escape save by superhuman 
means, he will hesitate no longer; he will 
withhold his divine strength no more; he 
will pronounce the Mighty Word, the night 
will straightway flash everywhere with win- 
nowing wings of fire, and, at that moment, 
the Kingdom will have come! 

Simon 

[Stammering with amazement. 
You — you — ^would dare — such a — stratagem? 

Judas 

For the glory of the Kingdom of God what 
would I not dare? I would cast my soul 
into the balance for it. And, after it is over 
and done with, ages to come will glorify me 
for the faith of my boldness — my name will 
live unto all generations of men! I shall 
be known as the Right Arm of the Messiah 
— greater than Peter, greater than John — 
because I dared! 



Judas 183 

Simon 

And you will not let the rest of the twelve into 
the stratagem? 

Judas 

No ! We must hold it between ourselves. 
They might not approve, or, approving, 
might not be as bold as we. 

Simon 

^Tentatively. 
It were well, perhaps, to do as you plan . . . 
But I? . . . Darkness sits over my heart. 
Judas, I fear ... I fear ... A sudden 
trembling goes through all my joints! 

Judas 

Simon, arouse yourself. What! is the zealot 
in you dead? 

Simon 

Yea, ever since he bade me cast my dagger 
aside. 



I 84 Judas 

Judas 

I need no help, then — I will work it all alone, 

will stand forever alone. 

» 

Simon 
And if you fail? 

Judas 

I cannot fail — for this was ordained from the 
beginning. And think, Simon, what a jest 
it will be against the Pharisees — to the gar- 
den will I lead them. They will carry them- 
selves proudly and arrogantly, and think to 
take him without a single blow. They will 
think that I have truly betrayed him into 
their hands — then, lo, in a lightning-flash, 
the Power and the Thunder of God will 
terribly break forth about them. They will 
find themselves hedged in on all sides by 
shining and awful shapes with swords of 
cloven flame. We will enter in triumph into 
the Holy City, attended by the seraphim of 
Jehovah. Then will the Perfect Year be- 



Judas 185 

gin. Death and oppression will vanish from 
among men. All nations will turn their 
countenances toward the Temple, in univer- 
sal prayer. All things will be made new. 

Simon 

I can hardly conceive of it. 'Twill Indeed be 
a wonderful change if it come about as you 
say. 

Judas 

And I shall accomplish it all with a simple 
word and a kiss — with the Kiss of Brother- 
hood that he taught us to use toward each 
other — I will come up to him and kiss him, 
that those who follow me may know which 
is he. 

Simon 

The wonder of your stratagem grows upon me. 
Ah, Judas, if you but succeed, if you 
make no mistake in what you conceive the 
Master to be! And yet I fear strangely 
for you. ... I see yonder among the trees 



I 86 Judas 

a Roman soldier. He sees us. He comes 
this way. We must cease talking of the 
Messiah. 

Judas 

Why, 'tis the very captain who gave us warn- 
ing to flee from Capernaum the last time 
we went up to Jerusalem. 

Simon 

The very same! What brings him here alone 
and away from his command? 

Judas 

We shall presently know. 

[Enter Sah'inus, the Roman centurion, 

Judas 
Sabinus, what would you here? 

Sabinus 

Listen! I have been made a new man by a 
sudden vision, come verily of God. In the 



Judas 187 

middle watch of the night, when all the 
world was asleep, it came to me. Me- 
thought I beheld the tribes of all the world 
gathered in one on the face of an illimitable 
plain. Yet they bare no weapons. They 
carried In their hands palms and olive 
branches. Then they started to march like 
a host advancing to battle. But their battle- 
cry was a song of love and peace and good- 
will. And they seemed to be going to the 
crowning of a king. Then the vision 
changed, and I saw One who sate on a throne 
reaching from heaven to earth. And when 
I was vouchsafed a glimpse of the face of 
him who was to be crowned king, behold, it 
was none other than he, the Healer and 
Prophet, Jesus of Nazareth. A hand reached 
down from heaven, from out a cloud of 
darkness, thunder, and flashes of fire, and 
set a shining crown upon his head. And a 
Voice cried, Behold, the Lord of Life has 
come. Let all men love one another! 
I woke from the vision, shaken of soul . . • 
^Brokenly. 



1 88 Judas 

Ah, how can I make plain the unutterable 
change that has taken place within me ! 
Where is the Master? Lead me to him, that 
I may pledge him my sword and my life. 

Simon 

He is a strange man! I fear he will have 
none of your sword, as he would have none 
of my dagger. 

Judas 

Great is your faith, Sabinus ! There is no 
faith so great in all Israel! Come, we go 
even now to the Master, and we will bring 
you to him. 

[Exeunt Simon, Judas, and Sabinus. 
[Enter Mary Magdalen, and Joanna, 
wife of Churza, the Steward. 



I 



Joanna 

I am told that he is here in Caesarea. So, 
therefore, let us rest a space, since he is so 
close at hand. 



Judas 189 

Mary 

We have come far. I, too, am weary, and fain 
would rest. But I must come into his pres- 
ence now, lest I die. 

Joanna 

You have already half-slain my soul with 
your haste. 

Mary 

I would find him and wash his feet with tears 
of repentance and wipe them dry with my 
hair. 

Joanna 

Your grief is indeed great! 

Mary 

If he will but forgive me! For I was mad in- 
deed to seek him as my lover after the man- 
ner of men. 

Joanna 

After what other manner could he love you, 
strange woman? 



190 Judas 

Mary 

After the manner of God — with a love that 
pities, that touches the soul and heals it of 
all its earthly wounds. He heals the bodies 
of men. , I know he can and will yet do 
greater — I would have him cleanse my soul 
to whiteness, and heal it of its sins! 



Joanna 

Can he work so great a miracle, Messiah 
though he be? 

Mary 

Joanna! I know that thing which even his 
disciples know not as yet : He is more than 
a prophet, more than a mere healer of the 
sick, more than a leader in Israel, he is the 
very Son of God! 

Joanna 
The Son of God! . . . Nay, child! . . . 



Judas 191 

Mary 

By my midnight vigils I swear it; by all my 
tears of repentance shed in the dark watches 
of the night; by the soul that even now 
begins to burst into a new life within me — 
by all of these things, Joanna, I swear it, 
that he is the Son of God 

Joanna 

If that be so, let us seek him out immediately. 
Blessed are we above all women — we who 
are able to wait on him, to serve him. 

Mary 

Aye, to minister unto his every want, to run 
before his every thought with service and 
ministration of love 

Joanna 

\^Ecstatically. 
If he be whom you say, meseems, Mary, that 
the angels themselves should have envy of 
us! 



192 Judas 

[Exeunt Mary and Joanna, 

[Enter Herod, Pilate, and the Priest 

of Pan. 

Pilate 
That was a feast worthy of Rome itself. 

Herod 

[With pride. 

My steward knows his business. I brought 
him all the way from Alexandria. He 
cooked so well that I gave him his freedom. 
[Turning to the priest of Pan. 

And you say that he is not John the Baptist 
risen from the dead, but a new prophet? 
Well, that brings a little comfort. I know 
not why I feared so foolishly. Such a thing 
is indeed beyond nature, as you say. And 
yet I feared it, of a truth. 

Priest of Pan 

They call him Jesus, the Prophet of Nazareth. 
I have recently held much discourse with a 



Judas 193 

disciple of his — a pleasant and lively fellow 
who calls himself Thomas — one who had 
made a great philosopher if he had only 
studied at Athens. 

Pilate 

But tell me of this Jesus? What manner of 
man is he? 

Priest of Pan 

A good man, and one who has by some means 
or other gathered marvellous wisdom be- 
yond and outside the schools ; like our JEscu- 
lapius, he is a miraculous healer; like our 
priestess at Dodona, he also possesses the 
gift of prophecy. 

Pilate 

And yet there is something more unusual than 
all that about this man. I remember him 
now. He was at Jerusalem during the last 
feast of the Jews, and angered the Pharisees 
greatly by getting the better of them in all 



194 Judas 

his disputations with them. The most acute 
and learned of them were no match for him. 
And at that time they called him the Mes- 
siah — whatever that may mean — I troubled 
not myself over it, being busied with weight- 
ier affairs. 

Herod 

[To Pilate, 
By Messiah they mean King of the Jews; they 
mean the Christ, of whom I told you. 

Pilate 

You mean, then, that this prophet Jesus would 
incite the Jews to rise against the rule of 
Rome? 

Herod 

The same. Procurator! 

Pilate 

[Laughing, hut slightly annoyed. 
The fool, the poor dreamer of dreams! Let 
us dismiss such an absurd thing from our 



Judas 195 

thoughts. We came, what is more to the 
point, to visit the temple of Pan and to offer 
sacrifice again ere my departure. 

Herod 

[Persistently. 
But this man Christ, Procurator, in thus dis- 
missing him lightly, you once more — pardon 
me — show how little you know of the Jew. 

Pilate 

[With disgust. 
Pah! I am tired of the Jew! I would rather 
have a little command in the midst of the 
Libyan Desert than here! 

Herod 

[Unable to dismiss the subject. 

If this man claim indeed to be the Messiah, he 

will make you much trouble, Procurator! 

Pilate 

We have thousands of well-drilled Roman vet- 
erans at our disposal. 



196 Judas 

Herod 

And he might have thousands of madmen at 
his! Men whose fury would be a power 
too great for even Roman discIpHne. 

Priest op- Pan 

I have heard It rumored that he goes down to 
Jerusalem at the next Passover. 

Pilate 

I will make his acquaintance then, perhaps! 

Priest of Pan 
The time of the Passover is at hand. 

Herod 

Indeed, I am now grown curious to see this 
remarkable man and to converse with him. 

Pilate 

He has already usurped too much of our 
thought. Come, let us offer up sacrifice and 
prayer for my safe return to Jerusalem. 



Judas 197 

Herod 

[Obsequiously, 
And let us also pour out another libation to 
Caesar! 

[Exeunt, into the temple, Herod, Pi- 
late, and the priest of Pan, with retinue. 
[Enter, in great hurry and agitation, 
Judas and Simon the Zealot. 

Judas 

Here is the place of meeting. 

[Enter, behind them, Thomas. 

Thomas 
And where is the Master? 

Simon 
He has not come yet. 

Thomas 

And now again we depart for the Holy City — 
so I suppose. Ah, how I weary of these 
fruitless journeyings to and fro! 



198 Judas 

Judas 

This visit to Jerusalem shall bear such fruit 
as to astonish all the generations of men 
forever! 

Thomas 

So? Your plan, Judas — tell me your plan! 
Yet bear well in mind that you must do no 
injury to him whom we love as our own 
lives ! 

Judas 

You will know my plan when it has been ac- 
complished, and not until then. 

[Enter, Matthew, Lehhaus, Bartholo- 
mew, Philip, Andrew, and all the other 
apostles and disciples, excepting James, 
John, and Peter. 

Matthew 
Has anyone brought word from the Master? 

Thomas 

Peter, James, and John have gone to him and 
abide with him, apart, on the mountain. 



Judas 199 

Judas 
We expect their arrival soon. 

Matthew 

I wonder what then will be his will? I chafe 
at this inaction. We have already delayed 

too long. 

Judas 

/ can tell you the Master's will. It is that we 
once more set out for Jerusalem. 

Simon 

This time to triumph or perish. 

[Enter James, saddened and downcast, 

Matthew 
Brother, what word from the Master? 

• James 

Sad, indeed, is the word I bear, and hard to 
be believed: he prophesies his death; he says 
that one of us who love him shall betray him. 
He Is exceedingly sorrowful. 



200 Judas 

Judas 

[Half to himself; startled. 
That one of us who love him shall betray him 
— one of us betray him ! 

James 

Aye! — that he shall be betrayed and put to 
death. 

Thomas 

Ah, no, no ! It must not be ! It cannot be ! 
In such case it were better that we did not 
go to the Passover! 

James 

And he prophesied still more — he said that he 
would rise from the dead! 

A Disciple 

I fear this Prophet, who, with his wonderful 
words, has persuaded me to follow him! 
His words strike terror into my very soul! 



Judas 201 

For all that he says comes to pass ! Yet 
how could this be true! No man has ever 
risen from the dead! 

Judas 

\_To Simon. 

My heart faints, even though I have encased 

it in the iron of resolve. . . . But nay, he 

is the Messiah! . . . Yet we shall soon 

see . . . we shall see ... in the Garden! 

James 

l^Cofttiniiin^. 
When Peter dared rebuke him for so prophe- 
sying his own death, the Master smote him 
with words which pierced the very soul: 
Get behind me, Evil One, he cried, for you 
savor of the things that be of men, and not 
of God! 

Matthew 

But the Kingdom, the Kingdom! What did 
he prophesy concerning the Kingdom? Will 
it never come? Is it always to be a dream? 



202 Judas 

James 

After his death it will come, so he proclaims. 
But it will not be like any of the kingdoms 
of earth. It will be a strange empire, where 
the Meek and the Righteous shall rule . . . 
Where the Servant shall exceed the Master, 
and the Poor, the Rich . . . Where the 
First will be last and the Last will be 
first . . . But it is dark, dark . . . and 
seeing I do not see — I do not understand — 
and my soul is sick unto death! 

Another Disciple 

Ah ! Woe is me, that I have left my home 
and kindred for this ! For a kingdom whose 
king shall perish, yet live again, whose 
princes are to be slaves, whose laws take 
root in a darkness of contradiction beyond 
all understanding. Ah, woe is me! 

Judas 

[To him who has just spoken. 
Hush, craven of soul! You have come thus 



Judas 203 

far ! Then endure to the uttermost whatever 
befall! 

Thomas 

That was well said, Judas ! I see a light be- 
ginning to grow out of the darkness. 



Judas 

Aye, a light that shall grow till It lights the 
world! 

[Enter John, exultingly. They all look 
toward him. 



Matthew 

John! We look to you for a word of light! 
For to you the Master reveals his innermost 
soul! 

Bartholomew 
We are like sheep which have no shepherd. 



204 Judas 

John 

But you shall have a shepherd, and he shall 
soon come to lead you safely into the folds 
of the kingdom . . . for Christ now 
marches to victory ... I have seen his 
Glory! . . . The Glory of God has de- 
scended upon him and transfigured him to 
the likeness of the sun! 

[Enter, hastily, Peter. They now all 
turn, as with one accord, to Peter. 

John 
Why did not the Christ come with you? 

Peter 

I left him alone upon the mountain-top, at his 
command. But he will soon come to us. 
He is more than a man . . . He is the Son 
of God. Peter, whom say men that I am? 
he asked of me, just ere I left him. Some 
say Elias, I answered, some say John the 
Baptist, and others, one of the Prophets. 



Judas 205 

But whom say you that I am? 

Then a vision rushed over me like a great 
wind, and I fell on my face, crying. 
Thou? . . . Thou art the Christ, the Son 
of God . . . And then, in acknowledgment 
of the truth of what I had said, a glory fell 
over his form, from Heaven, such that mine 
eyes could not endure the brightness of it. 

A Disciple 

And did he himself call himself the Son of 
God? 

Peter 

With his own lips! 

Several Disciples 

iCrytn^ out, one after the other. 
'Tis blasphemy! . . . He blasphemes God! 
. . . He has gone mad! 

A Disciple 

Aye ! . . . 'Tis blasphemy. . . . The Prophet 
of Nazareth has gone mad! . . . Because 



e 



206 Judas 

of these bold words of his I will follow 
him no morel 
\_Goin^. 

Another Disciple 

And I, too, leave him. ... I fear that God 
will visit His just wrath upon even all who 
continue to follow him, after this! 

Another 

I, too, can no longer tarry. . . . And you who 
abide with him still, let me warn you that 
you are by that very act foredoomed to de- 
struction ! I flee while there is yet time for 
escape. 

\_The3e disciples go out, 

Thomas 

[After a long silence. 
Yes, 'tis a hard saying! . . . But I, having 
known him, having loved him, will bide with 
him until the end, whatever it be ! 



Judas 207 

Simon 
Alas ! Alas I 

[To John. 

Go to him — for he loves you the most . . Go 
to him and bring him hither . . . Let us 
learn from his own lips the meaning of these 
sayings and prophecies! . . . He dies . . . 
He is the Son of God . . . Having died, 
he lives again, and, triumphing, brings in the 
Kingdom ! 

[Clutching at Judas' robe — aside, 

Judas ! Judas ! 

Judas 

[Aside to Simon. 
'Tis the Flesh that his godhead moves in — 'tis 
this that weakens his resolve — 'tis this that 
makes him speak in parables! He is losing 
faith in himself. But trust to me! I shall 
not fail! 

Peter 

He goes down to Jerusalem! This time to 
conquer. Doubt it not. 



2o8 Judas 

[Noticing the various expressions on 
the disciples* faces, pauses; then, with 
great emphasis: 
What, doubt you the Son of God? He goes 
down to Jerusalem 

James 

[Breaking in. 
Alas, to die! To die! 

[Several of the disciples weep. 

Thomas 
[Boldly. 
Then let us also go down and die with him I 

[The doors of the temple of Pan swing 
open, and Herod, Pilate, the priest of 
Pan, and retinue, appear. Both parties 
— the apostles and the pagans — look at 
each other in silence. Tableau. 



Curtain 



ACT IV 

SCENE I 

A room in the palace of the High-Priest at 
Jerusalem. Window in background. Door- 
ways to left and right. 

Hanan and Caiaphas discovered at rise of 
curtain. 

Caiaphas 

Think you that this trouble-maker will come 
down to the feast? If he come, we must 
surely lay hold on him. 

Hanan 

Aye, for his power among the people has al- 
ready become too great. 

Caiaphas 

They say he works miracles as did the prophets 
of old. 

209 



210 Judas 

Hanan 

If he does so, It is not of God, but of the 
Evil One — for he abides not by a single 
law of the Fathers. 

Caiaphas 

And not only does he break the Laws of the 
Fathers, but he also blasphemes against God 
and the Temple. Of God, I am told that 
he has said: I am His son, and He Is my 
Father, and he has boasted that he can In 
three days both destroy and rebuild the 
Temple. 

Hanan 

[Gleefully and malevolently. 
Why, If that be so, then It will be easy to com- 
pass his destruction. We can have him 
stoned to death for blasphemy. 

Caiaphas 

Nay — not without permission of Pilate. But 
I have heard that he proclaims himself to be 



Judas 211 

the Messiah, the King of the Jews. This 
will grate on the Roman ear . . . They 
will crucify him for that ... or hand him 
over to us, that we might crucify him . . . 

Ah, would that he were now here, that 

[A commotion heard without, Caia- 
phas steps hack to the window, and 
looks out. He gazes fixedly; then sud- 
denly draws hack. 



Ah! 

What see you? 

It is he I 

Who? 



Hanan 



Caiaphas 



Hanan 



Caiaphas 



Him of whom we spake — Jesus of Nazareth. 
Hear the people, what they cry! 

[Cries of Hail, son of David! Hail, 
Messiah! Hosannah in the Highest! 



212 Judas 

Caiaphas 

Do you not hear in what wise they acclaim 
him! 

[^Looking out at window again. 
They are casting branches of palm under his 
feet! They receive him as if he were al- 
ready their king. 

[Voices: Hail, son of David! Hail, 
King of Israel! 

Hanan 

[In wrath and fear. 
Let us seize upon him now, while he is close 
by, lest he escape again, as he did at the 
last Festival. Call the guard! 

[Makes to call the guard. 

Caiaphas 

[Restraining him. 
Nay! not now! Not with the multitude press- 
ing about him. To-day they would fight 
for him. 



But to-morrow! 



Judas 213 

Hanan 

Caiaphas 



The mob is fickle — to-morrow they will have 
forgotten him. Then we can take him with- 
out shedding of blood, accuse him before 
Pilate, and have him put to death. 



Hanan 

But, perhaps there may come no opportune 
to-morrow. You know not the man. At 
times he is capable of bold and resolute ac- 
tion, as when, for instance, he whipped the 
money-changers out of the Temple. He 
might even attempt to make seizure on the 
city! 

Caiaphas 

In that case, it were well, indeed. For the 
Roman legions would soon make an end of 
him and his followers, and we would be 



214 Judas 

spared what will at best, perhaps, be an 
undertaking fraught with peril. 
[Enter a priest. 

Priest 

\Bowing low. 
Masters, the man whom ye have long sought 
to lay hands on has even now entered the 
city gate. 

Caiaphas 

And how find you the people disposed? 

Priest 

In a dangerous mood. They believe him to 
be the Messiah. For a wonderful report 
concerning him has spread abroad, making 
all the pilgrims believe in him. 

Caiaphas 
What now? 

Priest 

'Tis said that in the nearby village of Bethany 
he has raised a man, one Lazarus, from the 



Judas 215 

dead — and that after he had lain three days 
in the tomb! 

Hanan 
Believe they this? 

Priest 
They believe, and have gone mad over it. 

Hanan 

It cannot be denied, now, that he is a danger- 
ous man, this Jesus. Long ere this he should 
have been seized upon and put to death. 

Caiaphas 

I have hitherto held him too lightly, I must 
confess. Last Passover I carelessly let him 
shp through my hands. But now I shall 
mend my negligence by giving him over to 
death, and that quickly. He shall never 
again escape his just punishment. 
[A knock heard at the door. 



2 1 6 Judas 

Caiaphas 

[Clapping hands for servant, 

[Enter servant. 
Go see who It is knocks at yon door. I had 
thought that a guard was stationed thereat. 
Ask him what he will who thus intrudes so 
rudely on the High-Priest's presence. 

[Servant disappears and re-appears, 

Caiaphas 

[To servant. 
What manner of man is he? 

Servant 

It is one who calls himself Judas; one who 
claims to have been a disciple of this Jesus. 

Caiaphas 

Bid him enter. I knew him well In former 
days. He was once a rich merchant here at 
Jerusalem: but he disposed of all his wealth 
to follow this Impostor. 
[Exit servant. 



Judas 217 

Hanan 

[Riihhing his hands together. 
Ah! . . . things go well . . . already we 
have one of them In our hands ! 
\_Enter Judas and servant. 

Judas 

[Bowing low. 
The blessing of Jehovah wait upon you. 

[To Caiaphas. 
Are you not Caiaphas, the HIgh-Prlest? 

Caiaphas 
You have said. 

Judas 

Then I have a matter of gravest Import to 
consider with you . . . 

[Significantly. 
Alone ! 

[Caiaphas beckons to servant and priest 

to withdraw. 

[Judas waits, in silence. He glances at 

Hanan. 



2i8 Judas 

Caiaphas 
This is Hanan, my father-in-law! 

Judas 
Did I not say alone? 

Caiaphas 

Open your robe. You carry no dagger about 
you, after the manner of the Zealots? 

Judas 

[Opening the folds of his robe, 
I have come unarmed. 

Caiaphas 

Father, leave us, then, for a space. 

[Lower. 
Remain behind yonder curtain; have others 
within call! 

[Hanan goes out by curtain. 

Caiaphas 
And now, what would you? 



Judas 219 

Judas 

[Smitten with sudden misgiving: he 

hesitates, trembles, sways, and then 

makes toward exit. 

Nay, it was naught, believe me ! 'Twas naught 

but a momentary madness that brought me 

here. A great fear has fallen upon me. I 

must go and leave unsaid what I came 
to say. 

Caiaphas 

[Puzzled. 
Yet, speak! ... do you fear to speak? . . . 
Do you fear me? 

Judas 

[Recovering himself, with determina- 
tion to proceed, come what may. 
I fear not to speak. I fear not you. I know 
not what I fear, and yet am I stricken with 
terror. 



220 Judas 

Caiaphas 

[Aside. 

The man is mad. He shakes with madness. 

'Tis well there are others nigh. 

[Calling out. 
Judas ! 

Judas 

[As one startled out of a nightmare. 
Ah . . . what would you with me, Mas- 
ter? ... It must be done . . . have mer- 
cy! 

Caiaphas 

I, Caiaphas, the High-Priest, call you — you do 
well to call me Master. I command you to 
speak. What came you here for? You 
stagger about like one full of wine. But you 
are in my power. Speak, or I shall have you 
seized and bound and cast into prison. 

Judas 

[To himself, distractedly. 
Nay, do I not do him a great wrong? — him 
who has trusted me with the common purse, 
with many things ! 



Judas 221 

Caiaphas 

[^Falling into his humor. 
Who was it trusted you with the common purse? 
Who is against whom you iconspire — 
whom would you betray? Speak — you have 
come here of your own will. You cannot 
now depart until you have delivered yourself 
of that for which you came! 

\_Judas advances toward the door. 

Caiaphas 

What ho ! The Guard ! The Guard ! 

[The guard appear: they present spears 
to Judas' breast. He hares it, in dis- 
dain. 

Judas 

[Angrily. 

Press home, if you will ! I no longer fear any- 
thing mortal. Caiaphas, this is not the way 
to make me speak. 
[Distractedly. 



222 Judas 

It Is God I fear, not man. But I have taken 
the step. ... It was so ordained from the 
beginning, and I shall persevere. 
[^Sinking his face in his hands. 

Ah, God, wilt thou not find a voice out of the 
silence and tell me what to do? 



Caiaphas 

[Beckons spearmen out. 
Strange being! ... I wait upon your words. 

Judas 

Nor shall you wait in vain. Know, then, that 
I, Judas, am come to betray into your hands 
the Saviour of Israel, the Son of God. 

Caiaphas 

[Eagerly. 
Ah! . . . 

[Restraining his eagerness and sneering. 
You mean the mad prophet of Nazareth! 



Judas 223 

Judas 

[Shaken with a new terror. 
Nay, I mean the Saviour of the World, the Son 
of God! 

Caiaphas 

Man, are you mad? Can the Wind have a 
son? 

Judas 

Ah, you blaspheme God! All things are possi- 
ble with Him! 

Caiaphas 
And you betray His son? 

Judas 
Yes! 

[JVith determination. 
That he might manifest himself over the weak- 
ness of the flesh — that he might tarry no 
longer, but blaze forth in all the splendor 
and terror of his God-head. In betraying 
him I do not betray him. Neither do I be- 



224 Judas 

tray you — for now you know beforehand 
that in taking him you will pit yourself 
against God — though you will not believe 
this, and will not thereby be restrained from 
laying hands on him. 



Caiaphas 

[With a sharp, half-frightened laugh. 
You rave! Where is this God of yours? 
When will you bring him into my hands? 

[Flinging a purse at Jiidas^ feet. 
There is an earnest of our bargain I 



Judas 

[Shuddering. 
Of our bargain! What bargain? 

Caiaphas 

[Impatiently. 
Have you not bargained with me to betray 
Jesus of Nazareth into my hands? 



Judas 225 

Judas 

[Dazed, 
Have I? Ah, yes . . . 

[With a wild laugh. 
Ah, yes! ... I have . . . but not for gold! 

Caiaphas 

[Mockingly. 
For what else, then, if not for gold? 

Judas 

That he might prove himself the Son of God 
to an unbelieving world! 

Caiaphas 
But take up the purse! 

Judas 

[Not heeding, going closer to Caiaphas, 
his eyes starting from his head. 
To-night! He prays ... in the Garden of 

Gethsemane ... I will lead you to him . . . 

after sunset! 



226 Judas 

Caiaphas 
Take up the purse, then, as a surety! 

Judas 

[^Shrinking ; to himself, 
I! . . . for gold? . . . Nay, but for the 
Kingdom's sake ! But they will suspect if I 
do not . . . some traps . . . some am- 
bush . . . and all will run amiss! 

[Stoops slowly and picks up the purse. 
As he rises to his full height^ with the 
purse in his hand, the curtain to left is 
flung aside, showing Hanan and two 
priests. 

Caiaphas 

[Pointing to them. 
Judas! You are bound — behold the witnesses! 

Judas 
I am betrayed ! 

[Shrieks. 

Ah! 



Judas 227 

Caiaphas 
You came to betray — what more? 

Judas 

{_A great revulsion sweeping over him. 

No! No! 

[Flings down purse violently at Caia- 
phas^ feet. 

There, take It back again ! It Is fire. It burns 
the touch. It Is full of scorpions. 
[Cries out and falls. 

Caiaphas 

[To guards. 
Bear him out; keep close guard over him. He 
Is not to be trusted. 

[ They pick Judas up and start out with 

Mm. 

[Stooping and picking up the purse. 
Walt, he must not go without the price of be- 
trayal ! 

[Puts the purse under Judas' robe, 

[The guards march off with him. 



228 Judas 

Caiaphas 

[Turns to Hanan, with great relief. 
It is finished ... at last we have Jesus of 
Nazareth In our power ! 

SCENE II 

The Betrayal 

The audience is in complete darkness. There 
is a tenuous white curtain, hung between the 
stage and the audience, and all the action of 
this scene takes place behind the curtain. The 
rustle of passing garments; a torch casts mo- 
mentary shadows of several human figures; 
and then darkness again. Suddenly a low, rich 
voice is heard. 

The Voice 

Sit ye here while I go and pray yonder. 

[A long pause; a heavy sigh. 
My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto 
death. Tarry ye here and watch with me. 
[A long pause; a sound of moving. 



Judas 229 

The Voice 

[Praying. 
O, my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass 
from me ! — nevertheless, not as I will, but as 
Thou wilt. 

[A pause: a long sigh: heavy breathing ^ 
as of one sleeping. 
What, Peter, could ye not watch with me an 
hour? 

[Another pause. 

The Voice 

[In great agony, 
O my Father, if this cup may not pass from 
me, except I drink it, Thy will be done ! 

[A very long pause, during which sob- 
bing is heard. 

The Voice 

[Now with great calmness. 
O my Father, if this cup may not pass from 
me, except I drink it. Thy will be done. 
[A pause. 



230 Judas 

The Voice 

[With solemn ^joy. 
Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of 
Man Is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 
Rise, let us be going. . . . Behold, he is at 
hand that doth come to betray me! 

Another Voice 

Whomsoever I shall kiss — that is he ! 

[Sound of an approaching multitude. 
The whole curtain is lit up from behind 
with torches. The shadow of one 
standing alone lurches against the cur- 
tain. Another shadow advances to it. 
They kiss. 

The Other Voice 

Hail, Master! 

[A great sigh of anguish. 

The Voice 

Friend, wherefore art thou come? 
[Other shadows approach. 



Judas 231 

The Voice 
[J^ain. 

Ah, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of Man 

with a kiss? 

[A great commotion of shadows and 

moving of torches. 

Voice of Peter 

We are betrayed! The Master is betrayed! 
At least let us die like men ! 
[Noise of scuffle. 

The Voice 

Put up again thy sword! For they that take 
the sword shall perish by the sword. Think- 
est thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, 
and He shall presently give me more than 
twelve legions of angels ! 

Second Voice 
In His holy name, pray to Him, I beseech thee ! 



232 Judas 

The Voice 

Nay, not so, for in such wise cometh not my 
Kingdom. . . . Do with me as ye will 1 

Second Voice 

\^]^ailin^. 
Alas, alas, the Kingdom hath passed by! . . . 
I have failed . . . woe Is me, I have failed! 
IThe leaping lights and lurching shad- 
ows pass out across the curtain in 
silence. Weeping is heard in the dark- 
ness. Then the curtain goes up, and the 
Garden of Gethsemane stands dimly re- 
vealed in feeble moonlight. Judas 
crouches like a rock-cast shadow in the 
centre of the stage, convulsed with an^ 
guish, 

Judas 

*Tis done ! 'Tis done — and, woe Is me, he 
bared not the omnipotence of his arm! 
Those whom I led to take him were not scat- 
tered with lightning as leaves are scattered 



Judas 233 

by wind! Alas! Alas! for all time I shall 
be a hissing to mankind because of this, my. 
failure. 

A Voice 

[JVhispering. 
Judas, what hast thou done? 

Judas 

I have betrayed, if not the Son of God, the 
noblest man that ever woman bore ! But 
get thee hence, I know thee who thou art, 
the Evil One! 

[// fiendish laugh echoes and dies away. 

Judas 

[Dropping purse to the ground. 
Nay, I shall take it up again — 

[Takes it up. 
— shall go and cast it, a ringing handful of 
silver, into the High-Priest's face! . . . 
'Twas but a pretext, a pitiable pre- 
text . . . otherwise they had suspected me 



234 Judas 

of leading them into danger . . . For at 
any one time, I, that was purse-bearer to 
the apostles, might have stolen from the 
common purse far more than this . . . and 
I gave up my riches to follow him ... I 
will go and throw it into the High-Priest's 
face. 

lA hollow laugh again echoes volumi- 
nously. 

Judas 

Come forth and shew thyself, or else be silent ! 
[Enter a hooded shape, 

Judas 
Wildly, 
I am distraught. How many are there of you? 
Either thou art two, or thou hast two voices ! 

Shape 
I am legion; wouldst see more? 

Judas 

Thou art enough, legion! Vile shadow, what 
wouldst with me? 



Judas 235 

Shape 

I am a spirit of evil, sent to thank thee by him 
who Is the Prince of Evil Ones, to thank 
thee for betraying Into the hands of men the 
Son of God! 

Judas 
What Son of God? 

Shape 
Jesus of Nazareth — thou knowest who ! 

Judas 

He was not the Son of God, I deem. Never- 
theless, thou llest — I betrayed him not — I 
loved him. It was my too great faith, my 
too great love, that In excess of blindness 
led me astray. But, If he be the Son of God, 
'tis not yet too late. Even yet he shall pro- 
claim himself. 

Shape 

They will condemn him to death ! 



236 Judas 

Judas 
They cannot slay him, if he be divine. 

Shape 
They will crown him with thorns. 

Judas 

The crown will break forth into roses as soon 
as it touches his head. 

Shape 
They will nail him to a cross. 

Judas 

If he be the Son of God, he will astonish the 
world and all the waiting angels, by stepping 
down from the cross, as a king steps down 
from a throne. And the cross will become 
a throne, and from it he shall rule all the 
nations. 

[A multitudinous laughter surges in 
from behind the scenes. 



Judas 237 

Judas 
iCowerin^. 
What was that? . . . Are there more? 

Shape 

That was the legion of which I erstwhile spake. 
They cannot be numbered for multitude. 
They come to sit about thee as their king — 
all the devils of betrayals that ever were or 
shall be — and thou the chief Devil ! 

IFery dark. Enter ^ dim-seen shape af- 
ter shape, till the stage is filled. 

Judas 

Ah! — send them away — for captain of them 
thou seemest. 

The Shape 

Be not unkind with them — they come to do thee 
homage. For know, Judas, that thou hast 
done a thing which is already famous in hell. 
'TIs not often that one can betray a son of 
God! And henceforth thy name — in heaven 



238 Judas 

— ■— -^ ^^— ^ ' — ^"~" t 

an abomination, on earth an execration, and 
in hell a white word of joy forever— shall 
be a type and not a name — a symbol of 
shameless betrayal, of uttermost foulness of 
soul. Hell glories in thee, Judas ! 

Judas 

Nay, I strove for the greatest good for which 
mortal hath ever striven! 

The Shape 

And hence thou hast overshot thyself and hast 
achieved the greatest evil. 

Judas 

[Wearily. 
Leave me, and take with thee thy brother 

spirits. 

The Shape 

Nay, I am thine — thine own accusing con- 
science. 

Judas 

And a foul companion thou art! 



Judas 239 

Shape 

Not half as foul as the soul I haunt. 
[More fiendish laughter, 

Judas 
Ah, I would be alone ! Great God, have mercy 



upon me! 



The Shape 



'Tis Impossible that thou shouldst be alone — 
no man who does evil goes alone. All hell 
is emptied of itself to do thee honor. 
[Enter more shapes, 

Judas 
There is no longer any room for them. 

Shape 
All hell could house its demons in thy heart. 

Judas 
With day thou and these monsters must depart. 



240 Judas 

Shape 
Not from thy bosom — 'tis our proper home! 

Judas 
Woe is me, I am doomed! 

The Shape 
Thou shalt not tempt the Lord, thy God. 

SCENE m 

A day later. The same scene. 
Judas discovered crouching, as before. En- 
ter, sorrowfully, Simon the Zealot. 

Simon 

[Not seeing Judas. 
Alas! Alas! The dream of the Kingdom has 
vanished like a morning mist, and all our 
goodly company is dispersed like a flock of 
sheep before the wolf when the shepherd is 
away. 



Judas 241 

Judas 
IHisses, 
Simon ! 

Simon 
[Startled. 

What dreadful sound was that? 

[Discovers Judas, and shrinks. 

Ah, Judas, is it you? 



Judas 
'Tis I . . . 

[With great hunger of soul. 
The Master, Simon, tell me of him! 



Simon 
[Harshly. 

Judas, fear for your soul. He is doomed — 

condemned to hang betwixt earth and sky. 

They spat upon him. They crushed upon 

his head a crown of thorns. They thrust a 

reed in mockery for a sceptre betwixt his 

hands. Judas, you have destroyed the Hope 

of all Israel ! 



242 Judas 

Judas 

You are bold, indeed, to blame me alone, when 

you approved of my plan, and Thomas 

winked at it. 

Simon 

I did not dream it would ever end thus ! 

Judas 

Out, craven! You condoned the enterprise, 
and yet would bear no portion of the blame. 

Simon 

I did not dream that this would be the end 1 

\_Weeps. 

Judas 

It seems that you, too, are torn asunder with 

remorse. Tell me, do the spirits trouble you, 

also? 

Simon 

You never told me that you meant to betray 
him in this manner. 
[Shuddering, 



Judas ^243 

I did not think that you would hunt him down 
as men hunt a wild animall 

Judas 

Hush! I deemed him omnipotent — though 
made weak of purpose by the flesh In which 
his Godhead moved. I thought to do him 
a kindly service. 
[PFildly. 

Before Jehovah, I swear that my kiss was one 
of love and belief, and not one of hate and 
betrayal ! So, upbraid me not. My guilt 
is heavy enough. God punishes me. Up- 
braid me not. 

Simon 
[Touched. 

He raves! The shadow of death lies black 

upon him. 

[Enter Peter, in great distress, 

Peter 

Ah, they have compelled him to carry his own 
cross. Thrice he fell on the way. They 



244 Judas 

have nailed him, hand and foot, the Living 
Lord, on the cross. . . . The soldiers cast 
lots for his garment. . . . My heart breaks. 
Ah, God, wilt Thou not come down and res- 
cue Thy son? Wilt Thou not bid him step 
down from the cross and bring in the King- 
dom for which we have so fruitlessly tra- 
vailed, and hoped, and striven? 

Judas 

[^Piteously. 

Peter! Peter! Have faith. He yet shall 
step down from the cross. Is it not true? 

Peter 

{^Shrinking hack from Judas. 
Loathed creature! You have worked this 111! 
You have done this ! 

Judas 

[With agony. 
Aye ! 'twas my work. I pay for It ! I pay for 
it! But chide not, lest the Son of Man step 
down from the cross and yet fulfil my faith 



Judas 245 

in him. Then 'twill be I who shall rise in 
glory beyond all the twelve ! 

[A long silence, 

[One by one the other disciples^ like 

strayed sheep, gather on the stage. 

Then the darkness at mid-day descends. 

All creation seems to rock and tremble. 

It lightens. The roar of the cataclysm 

dies off. Quiet ensues. 

Chorus of Angels 

[Singing in the darkness. 
All Nature groans because its Lord is dead; 
Yet Death from this sad hour is vanquished, 
And, though man's body wither like the rose, 
His soul at last her mighty nature knows. 
'Tis finished — by the death of God's own Son, 
Man over Death the Victory hath won! 

[Light gradually re-appears. Judas is 

seen to have vanished. 

Simon 

Ah, Peter, did you see the flash of wings, and 
hear those voices singing wondrous things? 



246 Judas 

Peter 
I heard, but understood not. 

Simon 

Nor did I. But full well I know that some- 
thing marvellous, something that the world 
never saw before, has taken place. 

Peter 
But whither has Judas fled? 

Simon 

I think that he has wandered forth to die. He 
has gone mad! 

[Enter, solemnly, John. All eyes con- 
verge toward him, as hearing the last 
word, 

John 
He Is dead! 

[Groaning and sobbing. 



Judas 247 

Peter 

And it was one of us whom he trusted and 
loved that betrayed him! 

Thomas 

basest evil ever wrought by man! 

John 

Peace, brethren, peace ! Peter, are you not 
smitten with shame? Was it not you who 
denied him thrice? 

Peter 

1 did not give him over into the hands of 
death ! 

Thomas 

Aye, that he did not ! 

John 

Thomas, 'twas you at every turn met Jesus 
face to face with doubt ! 



248 Judas 

Peter 

However, I pronounce my curse upon Judas, 
the betrayer. For to me is given from on 
high equal power to bless or ban. Accursed 
may you be forever, Judas ! May all bread 
turn to ashes at your lips, and all drink to 
fire! May all the world hate you! May 
God never look with love on you again 
through all eternity! 

John 

Cease, Peter, cease ! No more of this, I pray. 
Be not too stern of heart. Before mine eyes 
a hope begins to dawn, even for Judas, mis- 
guided in a rash resolve. Yet did we so 
much better than he? How often have we 
grieved, in little things, the Master's heart! 
How often have we doubted and withheld 
our souls from him! 

Peter 

^Remembering, weeps. 
Aye, 'tis so ! 



Judas 249 

/ John 

[With power. 
Now, who here dares pronounce further curses 
on the head of Judas, arch-traitor though he 
be? Who of us did not forsake the Master 
at his moment of supreme agony? What 
did ye here while he died yonder? And even 
now he hangs alone, between two thieves, on 
the dreadful hill of skulls. ... At the first 
bitter blast of persecution we were dispersed 
on winds of fear, like withered leaves. 

Peter 

Nevermore will I deny him. Let them come 
and take me now, and put me to death, if 
they will! 

James 

I will die for him, dead, whom I misunderstood 
when alive! 

Thomas 

I will believe in him, in spite of doubt. 
[Enter Mary Magdalen. 



250 Judas 

Peter 
Mary, what would you here, at this dark hour? 

John 
Rebuke her not — the Master loved her much. 

Mary 

Brethren in the Lord, rejoice! He is not dead, 
for he shall rise from the Dead. 

Thomas 
Alas ! we know too well that he is dead. 

Mary 

Nay, he shall rise again; he is not dead! 



Judas 251 



SCENE IV 

The Pentecostal Visitation 

interior of a chamber at Jerusalem, The 
apostles grouped around a table as in the Last 
Supper. 

Matthew 

For whom Is this vacant place at the head of 
the table? 

Andrew 

'Tis kept in honor of him who will break bread 
with us no more. 

Peter 
Would that I might but look Into his dear face 



again ! 



Thomas 



Alas for mortality and the power of the grave 
over men ! He has not risen ! The grave 
has proved stronger even than he! 



^252 Judas 

Andrew 

Yet has Mary Magdalen avowed that she 
found empty the sepulchre in which we laid 
him. She avers that she has seen him and 
spoken with him. 

Matthew 

Alas for the Kingdom ! Still bow the Jews be- 
neath the yoke of Rome ! 

[The candles go out as at a sudden 
wind, 

Thomas 

Some one has flung open the door. The wind 
has blown out the candles! 

Andrew 
Nay, I sit next the door! 'Tis closed! 

John 
He has risen. He is even now among us. 



Judas 253 

Thomas 

Some one sits in the chair. I feel a presence 
by my side! 

Peter 

Brethren, 'tis the Comforter of which he spake. 
[A misty light fills the room. 

John 

[Smitten with the Spirit. 

Ah, 'tis he ! 'tis he ! He is with us. He has not 

forsaken us. Verily, he has risen from the 

Dead into a larger life than ever! Dear 

Lord, Beloved Shepherd of Souls, is it thou? 

Thomas 

I believe ! I believe ! It is past speech ! Thy 
Kingdom comes as I dreamed, but dared not 
believe ! 

John 

He lives, he lives — the very Son of God ! 
Behold the Kingdom that he promised us, 



254 Judas 

'Tis no vain dream, 'tis everlasting truth! 
He shall bind all the nations into one, 
The love of him shall flood the world! 
He shall conquer with love and gentleness, and 

not with the sword. 
He shall live again in every heart that loves its 

fellow-men. 
Peace he will plant where discord grew before. 
He will save and heal the souls of men forever 

and ever. 
Ah, dear Master, forgive us, we beseech Thee, 
For deeming that Thou hadst ever died! 



Curtain 



W26 









^^ 






o « a 






>0^ c 



















*• ' 




O N 






4 o^ 












^oV^ 















